THEFT BY TEACHER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21248, 30 July 1932, Page 11

THEFT BY TEACHER

CHEQUE AND CLOTHING YOUNG MAN GIVEN PROBATION WARNING BY MAGISTRATE "If any further complaints arc received concerning accused's conduct he will be sentenced io a term of reformative detention, which 1 think he really deserves," said Mr. W. It. McKean, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday, when Reginald Richard Joseph Jenkin, aged 21, a school teacher, was charged with forging a cheque for £27 10m, stealing a letter containing the cheque, and stealing four overcoats, a suit and a fountain-pen. Accused admitted all tho charges except that of forgery, which was reduced by tho police to one of theft Detective-Sergeant Kelly said accused began by stealing a leather coat from the Auckland University College. Ho later stole a suit from tho common-room, and in March the theft of tho letter containing the cheque was committed. He cashed the cheque at a hotel. Later accused another coat, which he sold to a secondhand dealer. Two overcoats were found in his room when it was searched. Accused, who had been unemployed sinco last October, was the eldest of a family of five boys. He had been living far above his means, and had been in Court some time ago in connection with another theft, the case being adjourned. Counsel said accused had had a brilliant scholastic career. He had become a probationer teacher when only 17 years of age, but lost his position last October. He was in the clutches of money-lenders, to whom he owed between £SO and £6O. He, was not addicted to drink or gambling. Counsel asked that accused should be admitted to probation. "After his warning last year, it seems remarkable that he should have committed these offences," the magistrate said. "1 have conferred with the probation officer, and because of what he has said, I have decided to admit accused to probation for two years. Ho is very fortunate in obtaining such a recommendation. Accused must certainly leave Auckland." Accused was admitted to probation for two years, and was ordered to make restitution amounting to £4l 7s 6d. An application for suppression of his name was refused.