JOCKEY SENT TO GAOL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20058, 3 October 1939, Page 7

JOCKEY SENT TO GAOL

INTOXICATED IN CAR CAPSIZE ON BEACH ROAD (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. The driver of a car, which capsized on Beach road on Saturday night, Phillip Fearn, aged 24, a well-known Auckland jockey, was sent (o prison for 14 days for intoxication while in charge of the vehicle. He pleaded guilty in the Police Court to-day. The police said a constable was informed of the accident about 10 o’clock and arrived just in time to see the car being driven away in an erratic manner at a speed estimated at over 50 miles an hour. The constable commandeered a taxi and overtook the car, which was stopped in Anzac Avenue. Fearn was the driver. A doctor certified him to be definitely intoxicated. He had not been in trouble before.

Mr. J. J. Sullivan, counsel _ for Fearn, said accused took no liquor just before the accident. Having a heavy cold, lie had two rums before (j o’clock. When the cat capsized. Fearn sulTered concussion. He asked for the imposition of a fine.

The magistrate, Mr. W. R. McKean: I cannot see any reason for departing from what is almost a custom now—-to order imprisonment in these eases. Because he is a jockey, he is not privileged. I am satisfied that the overturning of his car and his subsequent erratic driving was due to his intoxicated condition.

Fearn was sentenced to 14 days’ imprisonment and his driving license was cancelled for 12 months.