GOODS VALUED AT £260 STOLEN

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 147, 17 March 1939, Page 10

GOODS VALUED AT £260 STOLEN

Woman Shoplifter Sent

To Prison

PSYCHOLOGIST’S REPORT

By Telegraph—Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, March 16.

Twenty-two charges of shoplifting Involving the theft of articles valued a t more than £260 from city shops, were admitted by Phyllis Esma Bowen, machinist, aged 25, when she appeared in the Magistrates’ Court today. She was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment by Mr. E. C. Levvey, S.M. ' 'The police said that the operations extended over 12 months, the stolen articles including furs, frocks, coats, stockings, perfumes,’ candlesticks, clothing and cosmetics. The case, said the police, was one of premeditated and systematic thieving. Bowen had one previous conviction for shoplifting in 1934.

A report submitted by her counsel from Dr. Sutherland, Professor of Psychology at Canterbury College, indicated that accused suffered from kleptomania. Counsel said it seemed incredible that a person should steal in such tr manner unless suffering from some disease.

The magistrate said that unless it could be shown that the accused acted under insane impulses he had to treat the case in the ordinary manner.