SERIES OF OFFENCES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23320, 13 April 1939, Page 16

SERIES OF OFFENCES

BAKER IMPRISONED THEFT AND FALSE PRETENCES ' (■ : [by tkt.kcraph—ow?r correspondent] WHANGAREI, Wednesday Charges of theft and false pretences were preferred against Samuel Henry Colev, baker, aged 28, of Wellington, before Mr. G. N. Morris, S.M., in the Whangarei Police Court to-day. Detective J. B. Fin lay .said that Colev had carried out a series of thefts and false representations throughout North Auckland before being apprehended by the police. He had a list of 19 previous convictions over the past eight years, and he was now serving a sentence of two months' imprisonment for theft at Kawakawa.

"You have a terrible record," said the magistrate, addressing Coley. "Practically all of your offences have been connected with dishonesty. It seems that you get into trouble every time you come out of gaol. A series of offences like this cannot be treated leniently." Coley was sentenced to 10 months' imprisonment,- the sentence to be cumulative with the two months' already being served. William James Heed, aged 59, who was with Coley for part of his trip through the North, was charged with the theft of a razor strop at Pahi. He pleaded guilty, and was convicted and discharged. Detective Finlay explained that he was at present serving a sentence of one month's imprisonment for being idle and disorderly.