CHARGES OF THEFT

Southland Times, Issue 21660, 23 March 1932, Page 8

CHARGES OF THEFT

YOUTH CONVICTED.

NAME SUPPRESSED. Following a series of thefts at Otatara and Oreti Beach, a number of charges were preferred against a youth aged 20, before Mr E. C. Levvey, S.M., in the City Police Court yesterday. Senior-Sergeant Packer prosecuted, while the accused was represented by counsel. On the application of the senior-sergeant several charges were amended from breaking, entering and theft to plain theft. The charges were as follows: Theft of £5, theft of two axes, theft of £4, theft of gum boots valued at £2 18/-, theft of tools and clothing valued at £5, theft of clothing, bicycle repair outfit and torch valued at £4 8/-, theft of articles valued at £2 11/-, and mischief and damage to a hut to an estimated extent of £2. the sumor-sergeant said the thefts had been committed between December and last week. Some of the tools the accused had used and others he had planted. The accused had had no previous convictions against him, but he had been out of work and at a loose end. He had been one of those youths who preferred roaming to home life. Counsel said the accused had little schooling and as the senior-sergeant had said he had a propensity for roaming. Possibly his association with the class of people who had worked with the unemployed had upset him. He would ask that the accused’s name be suppressed. The probation officer (Mr C. G. L. Pollock) said he had no recommendation to make in the case.

His Worship ordered the suppression of the name and sentenced the accused to imprisonment with hard labour for two months.