OLD OFFENCES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22210, 10 September 1935, Page 13

OLD OFFENCES

FRAUD AND THEFT ESCAPE FROM CUSTODY TWO YEARS' IMPRISONMENT Punishment for offences committed more than six years ago was imposed on Herbert Lawrence Handley by Mr. Justice Fair in the Supreme Court yesterday. There were charges against him of obtaining sums of £l5O and £SO by false pretences, theft of a motor-car and escaping from lawful custody. Mr. Aekins, who appeared for the prisoner, said that Handley was married, 41 years of age, with a wife and family in Australia. He was in trouble there in 1922 for being in possession of a stolen car, but the offences with which he was now charged were committed in 1928 and 1929. Pie had since given every assistance to the police. After his escape from custody ho went as a ship's fireman to England and then crossed to Montreal and Vancouver. Handley was convicted in Vancouver of keeping liquor for sale, counsel continued, and being unable to pay the fine of 500 dollars he had to serve a term of six months' imprisonment. Ho was afterwards deported to Australia, arrested there and sent to New Zealand. He had now been in custody for almost 11 months, and was anxious to get back to his wife and children in Australia, where his old employer was willing to re-engage him.* His Honor said these were types of offences for which it was impossible to give probation. In October, 1928, Handley obtained £l5O by a false pretence and in the following January he stole a motor-car valued at £135. Later in the same month ho obtained another £SO by false pretences. These were calculated and deliberate offences of a bad type. Ho posed as the owner of an established business and induced persons to risk their savings with him. On these charges he would bo sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment on each, the sentences to be concurrent. On February 18, 1930, while being conveyed by train from Wellington to Auckland, Handley escaped from a constable, and was not traced until recently in Australia, continued His Honor. Escaping from lawful custody was a serious offence, which often brought in its train grave difficulties in the administration of justice, and it must be met in every case by adequate punishment. A sentence of 12 months' imprisonment would be imposed, this to . be cumulative on the previous sentence.