INGENIOUS THIEF

Evening Star, Issue 19352, 11 September 1926, Page 11

INGENIOUS THIEF

OPERATIONS BY KOTOR RAIDS ON CDOIITEr STORES [Pek Ukited Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, September 10. Arthur Gavin was employed in Christchurch as a motor salesman, but ho lost his job. lie stepped briskly into the dock at the Supremo Court this morning and set out to tell the court why he embarked upon h'is career of crime. Gavin pleaded guilty to five charges, including breaking and entering ana theft. His operations extended to the country, and he made a selection of cars mainly belonging to well-known city business men to carry out his depredations upon the country stores.

“ While I realise there can be no excuse for the crime,” said the prisoner, speaking fluently, “ there must always be a reason for the lapse. My reason for committing the offences to Which I have pleaded guilty is that some months ago I occupied a good position with a wage of £lO a week. I lost money in gambling, and a friend advanced me £6O. The money became duo on August 31, and I received a letter from my friend, who is a southern business man, that he would be placed in ah awkward position if payment were not made. He asked me not to let him down. He trusted me, and I did not stand to gain anything out of these offences.” _ His Honor; I seo there is a conviction on a previous occasion for a similar offence; were the circumstances on that occasion the same as they are to-day ? The prisoner; I was in debt then, due to gambling. Mr Donnelly, for the Crown, said that the offences were of a particularly bad class. There was no doubt of the seriousness of the crimes.

His Honor said tho prisoner had been previously dealt with for breaking and entering and theft, and had qualified as an habitual criminal. He would impose a scntenco of two years’ imprisonment, and intimated that _he would have no hesitation in declaring him an habitual criminal if he appeared before him again. A few minutes later prisoner made his appearance in the dock at tho Magistrate’s Court to answer charges in connection with the wrongful conversionl of a motor car. > Ho again made his statement. Gavin was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment on two charges, the sentences to bo concurrent.