PRISONER SENTENCED.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 297, 13 November 1934, Page 2

PRISONER SENTENCED.

FOR THEFT OF CYCLE,

“I have warned people before that I would give imprisonment for every offence of this type,” said Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., at the Magistrate’s Court to-day, in imposing a term of 14 days’ imprisonment with hard labour when Philip South, of Awapuni, pleaded guilty to a charge that, on October 24, at Palmerston North, he stole a bicycle valued at £4, the property of Andrew Buckley Keen. Detective Power stated that accused was working on a farm at Awapuni and had taken the bicycle from the Square. He had ridden it into the city several times and when he had ridden it into town last night it had been recognised by the owner. Accused had repainted the machine. He had said he was bringing it into town to return it to its owner. Detective Power drew attention to the prevalence of the theft of bicycles, although, he said, there no suggestion that accused liad been involved in any other such theft. For accused, Mr T. F. Relling said that nothing was known against him except this one offence. He had a job to go to and counsel suggested that probation could be granted. The Magistrate said he had warned people before that he would impose a term of imprisonment for every offence of the type before the Court. They had to stop. Accused would be sentenced to 14 days’ imprisonment with hard labour. Mr Stout said he had issued a warning on nearly every occasion when such offences had been before the Court, and the Press had reported those warnings.