‘KLEPTOMANIAC’ NICKED CLOCK FROM PUB WALL
21-year-old Sally Thompson of Queen’s Road was up before the court on charges of theft of a barometer, valued at £4, from the Bear and Ragged Staff public house. In a statement made at Kenilworth Police Station, after she admitted the crime, saying; “I must be a kleptomaniac”. After the statement had been read out in court she stood up and said; “I was rather cocky at the police station, I am not a kleptomaniac. I would not have done it unless I had had something to drink”. Inspector Arthur Wild said that on July 14th, Mr Frederick Pritchard, cellarman at the pub, noticed the barometer on the wall of the smoke-room had disappeared. It had been there two days earlier. As a result of inquires, police went to Thompson’s home. She was asked about the disappearance of the barometer and she admitted that she had it. She went to her bedroom and produced it. In a statement, Thompson said she was in the pub with her boyfriend; “We were all having a good time and saw the barometer on the wall. I took it down and put it in my coat”. At the time, her boyfriend was allleged to have said; “It would look nice in Canada”. It was later explained that Thompson intended to marry later this year and emigrate to Canada. It was stated in court that she had been un-employed since November 1962. Mr. W. Hattrell, presiding, said to the accused; “As you are un-employed we have decided to treat you leniently“. She was fined a fiver.
SPEEDY LEARNER
The court was told that William O’Connor of R.A.F. Gaydon, in his car, flew round the corner on Finham Bridge, near Stoneleigh, far too fast, swerving to the offside of the road and then colliding with an oncoming car. O’Conner, pleaded guilty and was fined £10 for ‘driving without due care and attention’, his licence was also endorsed. At the time, the ‘Rafman’ was a learner driver with only 10 months experience.
CYCLE SWIPPERS FROM BRUM NOT WELCOME HERE
Well versed and equipped to the sinful art of ‘knocking off’ bicycles were a couple of Birmingham lads who visited Kenilworth Castle, studying the ancient ruins was far from their intentions. Amongst their ‘crime kit’ were a pair of pincers and a large hacksaw, ideal tools for cutting chains that secured bicycles. The tools were on show as evidence at the juvenile court, where the boys from Brum, both 13-year-olds, were fined £10 each for stealing four bicycles from outside of the castle. The total value of the machines were valued at £56. The court heard that two visits were made to Kenilworth and on each occasion a pair of cycles disappeared, whilst their owners were walking around the ruins. On their second cycle swipping expedition, the thieves were catch in the act. As the owners emergred from the castle, they saw their prize mounts being ridden away, gave successful chase and ensured the miscreants were handed over to the law. One of the previously stolen bikes was sold to a boy in Birmingham for just 10 shillings, which has since been recovered but the other has not been traced.
ABSCONDING GIRLS
A group of girls, from a local probation home, took advantage of a visit to Stratford-Upon-Avon on Wednesday August 7th – to make their escape. The court heard they were resident at the Woodland Grange Probation Home, situated between Kenilworth and Cubbington. The eldest girl, 18-year-old, Jean Ashworth, pleaded guilty to failing to comply with the conditions of her probation by absconding. She had travelled to London with another girl, a 16-year-old but they eventually gave themselves up at Fulham Police Station on Saturday 10th August. The magistrates ordered them back to the home. The 18-year-old had previously been sent to the home for a year by this court, that was four months ago. The 16-year-old, who absconed with her was described by an official as a ‘naughty girl’. The official added; “She is very rude and insolent to the staff and has caused a lot of difficulty at the home”. The following week two other girls, aged 16 and 17, absconded but they were caught in Stratford and returned back to the home by the police. Their cases were adjorned.
COPPER HIT WITH A TYRE LEVER
When two men, bailed by the court next appear, it is expected that more serious charges will be made against them. This was made by Inspector Albert Cox at a special hearing at the weekend. The men are, William Bush (26) of Leamington and Peter Goode (25) of Warwick. They were allowed bail of £20 each but remained in custody until they could find sureties. The charge was that of stealing a telephone kiosk coin-box and its contents. It was also alleged that they attacked a policeman, in which his helmet was knocked off. Inspector Albert Cox said; “At about 12.40 a.m. on Friday August 23rd, these men attacked a police officer when he caught them breaking into a telephone coin-box in Kenilworth, the prosecution is not ready to proceed with the case against them and we ask for a remand of a week”. The police officer in question, Anthony Highton, was alleged to have been hit with a tyre lever after chasing the men along the Blundells. They escaped along Albion Street in a car but later were caught in Kenilworth. The coin-box, valued at £4-17s-6d, contained £1-14s. It was taken from a telephone box in Spring Lane.
DISAPPEARING WELLIES
At court, two youths, one of whom was charged with nicking a pair of wellington boots and the other for receiving them. Inspector Albert Cox told the bench that the boys had an ‘Irresponsible attitude’. Garage proprietor, Barry Malkin (19) of Cornerways, Brookside Ave, pleaded quilty to stealing the wellies, valued at £2-15s, owned by Kenilworth Urban District Council. 23-year-old John Banham, who gave his address as Paisey in Scotland, pleaded guilty to receiving boots knowing them to be stolen. Inspector Cox said that the boots were kept in a council power house in the Abbey Fields. Mr Power, who is in charge of the premises had seen the boots on July 3rd, he also noticed three people ‘acting the fool’ nearby. When Mr. Power returned to the premises the boots had. Det. Sergeant J. H. Smart made investigations and interviewed Malkin, who alleged that he took the boots to use them after accidentally cutting his foot in the swimming baths. “Then I chucked them in the back of John’s car”, Malkin said. Banham at first denied knowing anything about the boots but later admitted that he had them. “I bought them from Barry for 10 shillings” he said. Both were fined £5.