BOGUS DETECTIVE

Hokitika Guardian, 21 January 1931, Page 5

BOGUS DETECTIVE

ATTEMPT TO OBTAIN MONEY.

WOMAN IMPOSED ON.

WELLINGTON, January 20

•Following representations that he was a detective and had been sent up from Christchurch to “clean up” certain houses' in Wellington, and after telling a woman that he would “g.’vo her the wink if there was anything doing in respect to her .house,” Basil Warring pleaded guilty in the Police Court on Saturday to a charge of attempting to obtain money by false pretences. He also pleaded guilty to n charge of falsely representing that he was a member of the New Zealand Police Force. On the first charge lie was sentenced to six week’s imprisonment by Mr T. B. McNeil, S.M., and on the second charge was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence am- time within twelve months if called noon.

Tiie circumstances of the offence were detailed at length to the Bench by Sub-Inspector Ward, who said the accused had approached the woman in question again on Friday morning after telling her that he was a detective earlier in the week. He had said that lie was behind with his rent and had asked her for the loan of Co. The woman had become suspicions, and when she had gone down to the Post Office bank to withdraw the money police officers lmd been on hand, and the accused had been arrested. Addressing the Bench the accused said lie had had no idea of imposing on the woman. When she had seen him first she had said. “Well, I sunpose you are a letective.” and lie had not disabused her of the idea.

“It is a most serious offence to represent yourself as a member of the police,” said the magistrate, in Imposing the sentences mentioned.