BAD RECORD OF CRIME

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 709, 8 July 1929, Page 11

BAD RECORD OF CRIME

HOUSEBREAKER GETS THREE YEARS’ REFORMATIVE For the next three years Ivan Major Martin Illing will undergo reformative treatment for crimes of breaking, entering and theft and breaking and entering with intent at Auckland. This punishment was meted out to him by Mr. Justice Kennedy in the Supreme Court today. Pleading for leniency for Illing, Mr. Noble admitted that prisoner had served a term of imprisonment on his conviction in 1922, when he was then 19 years of age, and prior to that had been before the Court. During the last seven years, however, Illing had done his utmost to go straight. When he committed these crimes he had been unemployed. His wife and children were practically starving and wore destitute, and in desperation he had taken this course. Counsel expressed a doubt as to whether a man under stress of these circumstances realised the enormity of his offence. “The best that can be said of prisoner is that he was sentenced to five years’ reformative treatment in 1922 and was released in 1925,” remarked the Assistant-Crown Prosecutor, Mr. Hubble. “The offences were committed in January and May of this year,” remarked his Honour, “and it is difficult to believe the prisoner when he says he broke and entered to steal food. In this country with the system of charitable relief, there is no need for anyone to want for food. It is harder to believe in view of your long criminal record—already you have served sentences of three and five years' reformative treatment respectively. You have a bad criminal record.” Bearing in mind that Illing had kept straight since 1922, His Honour imposed a sentence of three years’ reformative treatment on each charge, the terms to be concurrent.