COLLAPSED IN DOCK

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 41, 19 February 1943, Page 3

COLLAPSED IN DOCK

YOUNG MAN SENTENCED FOR CYCLE THEFTS SERIOUS VIEW OF OFFENCES. Shortly after being sentenced in the Supreme Court, Wanganui, yesterday, to three months’ imprisonment, concurrent, on each of six charges of stealing cycles, Malcolm Arnold Rasmussen, tramway employee, aged 27, collapsed in the dock and had to bo led away. Later, when he had sufficiently recovered, he again appeared before Mr Justice Smith and heard the sentence. Rasmussen, for whom Mr. A. D. Brodie appeared, had admitted six charges of stealing cycles, the total value being £5l 10s. Sentencing prisoner. His Honour commented on the seriousness of cycle thefts in a city like Wanganui, where people rode bicycles freely. Counsel, in a plea for leniency, said prisoner was a married man with a wife and two young children. He was a man of sober habits and regular living, and apart from one lapse, dealt with in the Children's Court, he had a good reputation.

“These offences extended over a period of three months and he tells me. though I cannot vouch for it, that when the idea occurred to him he succumbed to it, but that he has since given it up,” said counsel, who added that prisoner previously had a business in Lower Hutt. From there he had come to his present employment in the Tramway Department. Counsel, who produced testimonials for His Honour to read, commented that prisoner’s position with the department was still open Io him. His Honour: The theft of bicycles in a city like Wanganui is rather a serious offence. Counsel agreed with this view and added that prisoner had already learnt his lesson.

Prisoner’s practice was to remove cycles from the streets and other place?', and change them to some extent by altering the numbers and repainting them, said His Honour, imposing sentence. It. was a mean form of dishonesty deliberately carried out and was also a serious matter in a city such as Wanganui, where people were in tne habit of leaving their cycles in the streets.

His Honour added that he was unable to take anything other than a serious view of the case. Prisoner had previously borne a good character, but the offence could not be overlooked. The probation officer had stated that he was reluctant to recommend probation. A long term of imprisonment was not necessary, but the Court must make it clear that this class of offence was not permitted. At this stage the prisoner callapsed and was led away, later being sentenced as stated.