BORSTAL ESCAPEE'S CRIMES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 76, 22 December 1937, Page 7

BORSTAL ESCAPEE'S CRIMES

-Press Asgdciation.)

Converted Car, Stole Clothing FURTHER SENTENCE

(By Telegraph-

INY EROARGXLL, Last Night. An inmate of the Borstal institution, Leslie Jameg Harwood, aged 20, appeared in the Magistrate 's Court this morning before Mr. W. H. Ereeman, S.M., and pleaded guilfy to the following offences committed on December 10:— That he unlawfully escaped from the Invercargill Borstal Institution, that he unlawfully converted to his own use a motor-car valued at £135, and that at Mossburn he stole clothing valued at £20, foodstuffs valued at £2 and petrol valued at £1 5s 8d. He elected to be dealt with summarily in each case. Detective-Sergeant Thompson said that the youth had. been committed to the Borstal institution on January 3^ 1936, for a period of three years. On Pebruary 15 of the same. year he had escaped and was then sentenced to a further two years in the institution, making his term five years. On December 10 of this year he was working in the garden, having been put in a position of trust so -that he would have a chance to rehabilitate himself but ap- ■ parently he had planned to escape. Early that morning he had galned pos^ session of another pair of trousers different from those issned in the institution. In the afternoon he escaped when

he had a favourable opportunity and went into Leven street where he changed his trousers. He then took a car from behind Russell 's garage and drove to Mossburn where h'e stole food and clothifig. Eurthei1 on he stole petrol and kept going until he reached Te Anau. .The c4r broke down and next day he was arrested by Mr. R. W. Arn6ld, superintendent of the Borstal Institution. The car had been considerably damaged but the clotemg had been recovfired and could be returned if the Court made an order. The case was a difficult one for the youth was already serving five years. On the charge of escaping accused was sentenced to 12 months in the Borstal Institution and he received a similar sentence for unlawfully converting ithe car to his own use, the sentences to ;be coneul-rent with the term now being served. On the other charges he waa jeonvicted and discharged. An ordei was made for the return of the clothing