POLICE SERGEANT IMPRISONED

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 December 1934, Page 12

POLICE SERGEANT IMPRISONED

THEFTS AS COURT OFFICIAL. LONDON, October 23. Sentence of nine months’ imprisonment was passed on Station-Sergt. Frank Brown Jarrett, 45, chief warrant officer of Croydon Borough Police Court, when he appeared on remand in that court yesterday charged with stealing three sums, totalling £33/5/10, received by him from persons summoned for non-pay-ment of rates. There were now three further charges involving a total of £32/17/-. Mr Percy Holt, for Jarrett, pleaded guilty. Mr Vincent Evans, for the Director of Public prosecutions, said the Borough Accountant of Croydon discovered defalcations in connection with money received by Jarrett on the execution of warrants for rates. Jarrett was taken before Superintendent Smith, and agreed that his accounts were wrong, but he said he had hoped to get them straight again. He added: “I have kept a record of the in.. It has been going on for about two and a-half years. “I am in it alone. None of the men with whom I have been working have the slightest knowledge of what I have been doing.” Mr Evans said Jarrett handed to Divisional Detective-Inspector Hawkridge ninety-one warrants relating to his misappropriations of about £l,OOO. Jarrett was originally in the Royal Garrison Artillery and joined the Metropolitan Police in 1919. Nine years ago he became chief warrant officer, and every half-year handled over 1,000 warrants issued respecting unpaid rates. It was his duty to hand in daily the money he received, but he had retained amounts and hidden his tracks by marking warrants “withdrawn” or ‘‘no effects.”

“SELFISH ENJOYMENT.” Superintendent Helby, of Scotland Yard, said Jarrett had a wife and two boys, each of whom had won scholarships at school. “I think I can safely say,” the superintendent went on, “that none of these have benefited in any way from this stolen money, but that it has been spent by Jarrett in his own seifish ways on his own selfish enjoyment.” Mr Holt protested that there was no evidence of this. The superintendent said that Jarrett, having become chief warrant officer, .apparently developed into a cunning and dangerous thief. He had badly let down the officer who had recommended him for promotion, because he obtained the post in preference to several others. “He has brought discredit on the whole of the Metropolitan Police,” the superintendent continued. “Not a single man has any sympathy for him. He was earning a good wage, £6 a week, and had a good job. “He has been betting, and, I understand, owes a bookmaker money, and has been running about in a motorcar on which he owes £BO. He belongs to a certain society, and was very conspicuous there on ladies’ nights. “I am asked to ask you to pupish this man severely.” The superintendent left the box and passed in front of Jarrett in the dock. A moment afterwards the superintendent turned back, and, addressing the Bench, said: “The prisoner has just called me a ‘rotten swine.’ ” “I never said a word to you.” Jarrett replied. “The character you have given me is the one you deserve.” It was explained that printed notices were issued before the execution of warrants stating that instalments would not be accepted. Jarrett, however, with the knowledge of the ratecollecting office, received instalments but did not pay them in until the full amount had been collected. »' Mr Holt said he would not comment on such a system, but he was afraid Jarrett began by sympathising with people and taking instalments. When he began drawing on the money he was living beyond his income. He had been entering into social activities in the town to an extent he could not afford.

The Chairman, Mr F. Allen (to Jarrett): You are the last man in the world I should ever have expected to see in the dock. Jarrett, having been sentenced, shook hands with several friends, lighted a cigarette, and was conducted from the building.