TAUPO TRAFFIC OFFICER ARRESTS STOLEN CAR TOURIST

Taupo Times, Volume V, Issue 209, 3 February 1956, Page 1

TAUPO TRAFFIC OFFICER ARRESTS STOLEN CAR TOURIST

When Kenneth William Joseph Kerr, aged 29, decided to have a sleep in the car he was driving, parked near the road at Four Mile Bay, Taupo, he unwittingly brought his North Island tour to a close. A woman driving past recognised the car, despite changed number-plates, as being her fiance's, which had been taken 11 days before at Hunterville. Traffic Officer R. A. S. Miller, of Taupo, was advised, and found Kerr still asleep. He arrested him, and brought him to the Taupo Police Station in Mr Evan Owen's taxi. Kerr appeared before Mr W. A. Harlow, S.M., at the Taupo Court on Thursday, January 26. He pleaded guilty to eight charges of car conversions and two of theft, covering the period since November 18, Detective M. J. Ryan, of Rotorua, prosecuted and outlined accused's travels from Masterton, to Martinborough, Carterton, Woodville, Waitotara, Cambridge, Opotiki and Wellsford. Accused had a list of 63 convictions for offences of a similar type. The Magistrate, in onvicting accused on all charges, said he had qualified for a lengthy sentence. Frankly, he did not know what to do with him. The case required consideration and in order to avoid any injustice to Kerr he would remand him for sentence at Napier on February 1. A. probation officer's report would be obtained.