NINE MONTHS' GAOL

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXI, Issue 4957, 18 February 1937, Page 5

NINE MONTHS' GAOL

THEFT AND FALSE PRETENCES. PUBLIC VICTIMISED. "There is only one place for a man who habitually victimises the public as you have done,'' said Mr. W. H. "Woodward, S.M., in the Police Court at New Plymouth on Tuesday morning when sentencing Richard Hugh Champion, who had pleaded guilty to a series of eight offenc.es involving theft, false pretences, and the unlawful conversion of a motorcar, committed in New Plymouth and Te Kuiti during the first week of the present month. "Until you learn to use your undoubted ability honestly," the Magistrate continued, ''you must be put away for the protection of the public. You are liable even now to be declared an habitual criminal, but I don't propose to do that in view of what your counsel said as to drink being the cause of your troubles. There is little doubt, however, that if you come before the court again you will be declared an habitual criminal."

On the charge relating to the theft of a man's, overcoat the prisoner was sentenced to six months' imprisonment and to an additional three months for the unlawful conversion of a motor car. On the other charges the prisoner was convicted without penalty. * An order was made for the return of the recovered stolen property "to its owners.