DECLARED HABITUAL CRIMINALS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 25 October 1941, Page 4

DECLARED HABITUAL CRIMINALS

TWO YOUNG MEN SENTENCED IO SEVEN YEARS’ GAOL Christchurch, Oct. 24. Leslie Jack Davies and Graham Wilfred Morton were declared habitual criminals by Mr Justice Blair to-day. The prisoners appeared for sentence on charges of breaking and entering, committing theft and unlawful conversion of a motor car. charges to which they bad pleaded guilty in the lower court and on two charges of breaking and cute. ring and theft on which they were found guilty bv the jury. "You are both young men. being aged only 31 years,” said his Honour. "Both oi you have adopted burglary in one form or another as a profession. You ore a danger to the community, and while you arc about and gelignite is available you propose to go through the country breaking into any safes that might take your fancy.” Recently in the North Island prisoners had been sentenced to four years’ i imprisonment on one charge and six months’ for car conversion, said his Honour. In imposing similar sentences j ip each of the present charges, sen- i tences would be concurrent, but cumu. i lr.tivc in respect of the North Island sentences. “That means your total imprisonment will be eight years. In addition 1 think it is proper to declare you both habi- i tual criminals.’' —P.A.