SOLICITOR’S THEFTS

Hokitika Guardian, 21 December 1931, Page 8

SOLICITOR’S THEFTS

THREE YEAR 'SENTENCE. [By Telegraph, Per Press Association AUCKLAND, December 18. A request by the prisoner, that ain term of imprisonment that the Court might impose should date from July 28th last, was granted by Mr JuslUi ißeod in sentencing Pereival John iScantlebury on four charges of theft at .the Supreme Court. Counsel Tor the prisoner said the latter was at present serving a‘ term of three years’ imprisonment fm making a false declaration on an audit certificate. This had been dor to cover up difficulties in which lie had found himself. He got behind in his books and bed overdrawn from his trust account. Up to date, "Seantlpbury, had assisted the police and the Official Assignee to reduce Iv’s clients’ loss as much as povssible. The amount was now well below £llOO, and there would be a further reduction of about £250. The prisoner had suffered from disgrace, and was also suffering by the term of imprisonment he was serving. Sea.nit-1 ebury, from the dock, asked if he might -supplement the remarks of his counsel, and, the request being granted, he said that, of the term ot three years, lie had already served four and a-half months, land this, with such remission as the prisoner nvglit expect for good conduct, was equivalent to six months. He was not responsible for the delay in bringing the case before the Supreme Court. “If your Honour intends to pass a similar 'sentence to the one 1 am now serving, I would ask that it tale* effect from July 28th last.” Hon Honour said that he did not intend to increase the term which the prisoner ’was now serving, and would sentence him to three years’ reformative detention, the sentence to be concurrent, with the one prisoner was now ■serving, and to date from July 28th last.