YOUTHFUL BURGLARS

Taranaki Daily News, 29 November 1926, Page 13

YOUTHFUL BURGLARS

TERM IN BORSTAL INSTITUTE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Nov. 26. A youth, Arthur David Horace Porter, appeared before MrT Justice Alpers for sentence for breaking, entering and theft at Eketahuna. Mr. Parry, for the prisoner, said he was very overgrown for his age, being only 17 though he was 6 feet in height. He appeared to have overgrown physically but not developed mentally. He characterised Porter’s actions as those of a kleptomaniac, Counsel said he stole a packet of cigarettes, not to smoke, bnt for the pictures, while the other thefts were of small articles. Counsel agreed that probation was out of the question, and submitted that in the best interests of the lad he should be detained in a Borstal Institution for as short a term as possible. His Honour said the duration of the term rested in the hands of the Minister. A lad of prisoner’s age should be kept a considerable time In order that the training he got should have some effect on him.

In sentencing the prisoner to be detained for a period not exceeding two years, His Honour said he wanted to impress on Porter that he was not being sent to prison, but. to an institution which was partly a school, a place where he would be put to work, which His Honour hoped accused would find interesting.