Rafman Did Not Halt
21-year-old Reginald Cavell Bailey of R.A.F. Wellesbourne was before the court following a collision on the Abbey Hotel crossroads. It was stated that he did not stop at the halt-sign on December 8th and went straight into a Midland Red bus. In a statement, Bailey, who pleaded quilty, said he was not familiar with the roads in Kenilworth. Luckily, nobody on the bus was injured.
His licence was endorsed and was fined £10 for driving without due care and attention.
Fled from the Scene but Nabbed near Pub
Coventry motorist Peter Franklyn did not stop after clouting another car whilst recklessly overtaking at Crackley. But he eventually pulled up a bit further along the route, outside of a pub in New Street. He was still sitting in his car when the driver of the clobbered car caught up with him. Recognising Franklyn’s car, he stopped and then saw the occupant getting out of the car but as he did, he just flopped onto the ground.
He was charged with driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs, dangerous driving and failing to stop after an accident. The bench showed little sympathy and he was banned from driving for two years and fined a whopping £50. He was also ordered to pay a doctor’s fee of 3 guineas.
Inspector Albert Cox said that on examination by a doctor, it was estimated that Franklyn had consumed the equivalent of at least 7 pints of beer. At court, Franklyn said that he had been ‘terribly distressed’ about his domestic troubles and had also been out of work. (but had enough money for booze, apparently)
Band’s Tom-Tom Had Gone
No matter what happens the show must go on, a term often used by entertainers. It must have been in the minds of the members of a band whose ‘tom-tom’ drum had disappeared just before they were due to play at a dance at the Abbey Hotel.
“It was only done as a prank and we were going to return it but we didn’t have the guts to take it back” said 18-year-old Nigel Hook of Ashfield Road. He was jointly charged with John Banham of Fernhill Farm with stealing the drum, valued at £12. They both pleaded guilty and were fined £3 each.
Court Landed Up in Court
Brian Richard Court, a 19-year-old Kenilworth garage forecourt attendant who said, “A little but often” at court, was put on probation for two years. The defendant, of Beauchamp Road, pleaded quilty to embezzling 7s-6d from his employers, Bridge Service Station and falsification of accounts.
Inspector Albert Cox said that instead of registering the money paid to him by customers for paraffin he just kept it. He asked for several other similar offences to be taken into consideration. When questioned by the police, Court admitted ‘pocketing’ money given to him by customers, especially when he had ‘run short’. It was stated he was of previous good character. (Well, that’s alright then)
Car was Casulty of ‘Car Clinic’ Van
On the evening of February 10th, a Saturday, Mr. Albert Lucas of High Street went out for the night with some friends. When he returned at about 1am, he parked his car outside his house and went inside with his companions.
Shortly afterwards he heard an ‘almighty bang’. When he ran outside he saw that a van with ‘Car Clinic’ on the side had hit his vehicle and it hadn’t stopped and was continuing along High Street towards Coventry.
Police traced the van and the man, Bernard Overton to an address in Green Lane, Finham. He was subsequently charged on three counts: driving without due care and attention, failing to stop and not reporting an accident.
Overton who, it was stated; “Was not paying proper attention to his driving”, was fined a total of £25 and had his licenced endorsed.
The so-called ‘Car Clinic’ will not be top of Mr Lucas’s list for the repairs to his vehicle.