SECOND ESCAPE IN TWO YEARS

Southland Times, Issue 23389, 22 December 1937, Page 7

SECOND ESCAPE IN TWO YEARS

Concurrent Sentence

Imposed CAR TAKEN FOR TRIP TO TE ANAU The prisoner who escaped from the Borstal Institution on December 10, Leslie James Harwood, appeared in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday before Mr W. H. Freeman, S.M. and pleaded guilty to charges of escaping from custody, converting to his own use but so as not to be guilty of theft a motor-car valued at £135, the property of A. S. Russell and Co., the theft at Mossbum of clothing valued at £2O, the property of Bertie Arnold Vercoe, and the theft at Mossbum of foodstuffs valued at £2, the property of Charles Gordon Macaulay. Detective-Sergeant R. Thompson said the accused had been committed on January 3, 1936, and had escaped on February 13 the same year. He appeared before, the Court and was sentenced to a term of two years detention in a Borstal Institution the sentence beiqg cumulative. On December 10 this year he was working in the institution’s garden and was in a position of trust He was under no supervision and was given this work to rehabilitate himself. Apparently he had planned his escape because he had_ come into possession of a pair of ordinary trousers, and at a favourable opportunity had escaped, gone to the back of the nurses’ home, replaced the institution trousers with the ordinary ones and taken a motor-car from the back of Russell and Co’s garage. He then drove to Mossburn where the thefts were committed, stole some petrol and food and continued to Te Anau where the car broke down. He was arrested the next day by Superintendent Arnold and brought back to town. The car was considerably damaged and the clothing had been recovered. At present he was serving a term of five years. For the sake of others in the institution it. should be made clear that they —uld not escape and hope to remain free. Mr Arnold said the boy’s behaviour had not been satisfactory. He was 20 years of age. “It is of no use trying to escape, said the Magistrate, addressing the prisoner, “because you can’t' get away with it. I think I pointed that out to you before. Invariably in ordinary circumstances you are recommended for release and you should bear that in mind.” The detective-sergeant said that this was no sudden impulse on the boy s part, as the whole affair was premeditated. “When you do escape,” said the Magistrate, “thefts always follow because you must live, and you take things which you would not otherwise do.” The detective-sergeant said the motor-car had been returned. It was damaged but it was useless asking for an order for damages against the accused. < Mr Arnold said that if he behaved himself now the board would take that into consideration. “You should realize that,” said Mr Freeman. “If you escape again and cause trouble you can’t expect to be recommended for release. On _ the charge of escaping the sentence will be 12 months’ detention, to be served concurrently.” . For converting the car the Magistrate sentenced the youth to three month’s cumulative imprisonment but Detective-Sergeant Thompson raised the question of the Court’s power to impose such a sentence under the Borstal Institutions Act, under which 12 months’ detention was the minimum. “I think it would have the desired effect if it were concurrent,” added the detective-sergeant. “Yes, very well,” said the Magistrate. Addressing the prisoner he told him that if he attempted to escape again he would be spending the greater part of his life in prison. He was a good stamp of young man and should realize that such acts were no good to him. On each of the first two charges the sentence would be 12 months’ detention, the sentences to be concurrent. On the other charges he would be convicted and discharged. An order was made for the return of the car and the clothing.