10 Months' Gaol For Auckland Man

Northern Advocate, 26 February 1940, Page 2

10 Months' Gaol For Auckland Man

A total of 10 months' imprisomm nt with hard labour was imposed on Hugh Champion, 29, of Auckland, in the Whangarei Court this morning, after he had pleaded guilty to four charges. Champion was sentenced to six months' imprisonment on a charge of converting to his own use a car valued at £SO, the property of Joseph Alfred Tafford, two months on a charge of obtaining £5 'from the same man by false pretences, and two months on a charge of stealing wearing apparel valued at £2 6'7, also the property of the same man, the charges to be cumulative.

On a charge of stealing an electric kettle valued at 25/. the property of John Wyllie, he was convicted and discharged.. Champion had signed statements admitting the first first three charges, said Detective G. S. Miller, in evidence. Asked by the magistrate (Mr Raymond Ferner) what was known of Champion's antecedents. Detective J. B. Finlay, who prosecuted, said that ; he was known to the police. Due to Drink € I Champion, who had pleaded guilty to the charge of the theft of the kettle, elected to be dealt with summarily on the other three counts, to which he also pleaded guilty. Since 1932 Champion had been almost continuously in trouble, and his list of convictions spoke for itself, said Detective Finlay. Asked if he had anything to say, Champion told the magistrate that on account of his past record he could not expect leniency. However, there had not been one charge against him when he 'fid not been inebriated, all his offences being due to drink. Campion had been drinking at the time the present offences/ had been committed, said Detective Finlay. When sober he had cashed a cheque for complainant, to whom he had given the money. “Yours is a bad list," the magistrate told Champion, in imposing sentence. Asking for suppression of his name, Champion said that his mother was in hospital and the doctor had told him any shock would have a detrimental effect. He had no power to make such an order, the magistrate replied.