Two Policemen Get Gaol Terms For Bringing False Charge Against Girl of 21.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18567, 15 September 1928, Page 2

Two Policemen Get Gaol Terms For Bringing False Charge Against Girl of 21.

JUDGE CHARACTERISES CASE AS SERIOUS ONE AND IMPOSES SENTENCE OF IMPRISONMENT FOR EIGHTEEN MONTHS. (United Press Association.—Bs Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Received September 15, 1.30 p.m.) j LONDON, September 14. AFTER close on three days’ trial at the Old Bailey, .T. W. Clayton and C. V. Stevens, Metropolitan constables, were sentenced to eighteen months’ imprisonment each for conspiring to bring a false charge against Helen Adele, a twentj'-one-year-old girl, and also with wilful and corrupt perjury in support of the charge. The case for the prosecution was supported by many witnesses. It was to the effect that last July Helen Adele resented the attentions of Clayton in a taxi-cab in a garage at Islington, where she sometimes used to sleep, and also that when-shc threatened to inform the sergeant both Clayton and Stevens, who were accustomed to visit the garage while they were supposed to be ! on night duty, arrested her on a charge of using insulting words and behaviour. The charge was dismissed at the Police Court,' after which the constables were arrested at the instigation of the Public Prosecutor. In view of the recent police disclosures there has been considerable interest in the case. Sir Henry Curtis-Bennett, defending accused, declared that if the condition of affairs in the Metropolitan Police Force were such as had been suggested the case was worse than any anti-police fanatic had ever suggested. It was alleged that the police were perjurers and that they left their beats at any time for anything, and also that they had got the public into such a state that nobody would care to say to them nay. He dealt at length witli the character of the witnesses, describing them as a gang from the garage. Helen Adele had said in evidence that she thought policemen in uniform could do as they liked. Sir Henry Curtis-Bennett added: “If that is the position in the Police Force it is quite time something should be done.” Mr Justice Humphreys declared that it was a serious case. The men had disgraced their uniforms. Stevens collapsed.— Australian Press Association-United Service.