Gaol For Youth Who Converted Employer’s Truck

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 October 1949, Page 4

Gaol For Youth Who Converted Employer’s Truck

“Thi§ type of offence is far too common —easy to commit and sometimes hard to detect,” said Mr F. F. Reid, S.M., in the Police Court at Greymouth today in sentencing John William Joseph Larcombe, aged 20, a dairy hand, of Cobden, to six weeks’ imprisonment, with hard labour, on a charge of truck conversion. The Magistrate added that had it been Larcombe’s first offence he might have considered leniency but this made his seventh conviction, clearly indicating that the accused was the type of person to whom it had to be brought, home that he could not make use of other people’s cars at will. Plea Of Guilty

Larcombe, who was represented by Mr W. D. Taylor, had pleaded guilty to charges of converting to his own use on September 1 a motor truck valued at £325, the property of Riversdale Dairy Supplies Ltd., Greymouth, and of driving without a licence on the same date. Senior-Sergeant R. C. Mcßobie said that on the night of September 1 an accident occurred at Stillwater, two women being knocked over- by a truck, although they were not seriously injured. On inquiries being made it was ascertained that a Riversdale truck was involved and when the firm was approached it was found that the accused, who was driving at the time, had no right to. take the truck. It was a surprise to his employer that the truck was out. On being interviewed added the senior-sergeant,' the accused candidly admitted that he had no right to take the truck.

Mr Taylor said that the Riyersdale company had a number of vehicles and drivers and, although the defendant was not a regular driver, he was called upon to drive at times. It appeared that there might have been some laxity in the use of vehicles by the staff and the accused thought that there would be no objection on this occasion.

Employer’s Attitude

The accused, added Mr Taylor, was still employed by the company and apparently they were still satisfied with him. He (Mr Taylor) handed to the Magistrate a letter from the manager of the company. “I submit that the accused’s action was irresponsible, rather than criminal. I can only say that he has had a severe fright and ask that you extend what leniency is possible to him,” concluded Mr Taylor. . Aftei’ making the remarks quoted the Magistrate sentenced Larcombe to six weeks’ imprisonment with hard labour on the charge of conversion and fined him £l, with 6s costs on the charge of driving without a licence.