Author: Nick

CANNOT DRIVE UNTIL HE IS 92

For the next decade, 82-year-old David Deacon of Birches Lane will have to forego one of his main interests in his long life – driving. He was banned for that period by the court and in addition to his disqualification, the defendant was fined a total of £14 and had his licence endorsed.

12 months ago, Coventry Magistrates ordered him to pack-up motoring until he had passed a driving test. Because of that ruling, Mr Deacon continued his driving but only around his own driveway. But on May 15th his round-the-house enjoyment was threatened when the car was running low of petrol. Temptation to obtain a refill proved stronger than discretion, and on to the road he went. On the way to the garage, only a mile away, he had a number of near misses. This resulted in him being charged with four offences. He pleaded quilty to driving in a manner dangerous to the public, driving a car unaccompanied by a competent driver, when the holder of only a provisional licence, not displaying L-plates and driving when disqualified.

In court, he was represented by Mr David Sergeantson, who said; “This is not a case of a man driving dangerously along the road, in Coventry last year, Mr Deacon was disqualified until he took another test, and that detered him”. Insp. Albert Cox said that as far as the police are concerned, the proceedings at court were not brought to impose a heavy fine but to determine whether or not Mr Deacon should continue to drive.

When Mr Deacon left home on May 15th to buy petrol, he travelled along Birches Lane at about 10 to 15 m.p.h, swerving from side to side. He was followed by two cars, the drivers of which were afraid to overtake him because of Deacon’s erratic ‘driving’. A little girl on a bike near to Thickthorn Close had to jump clear of the car before she was run-over. The car stalled in Moseley Road causing following vehicles to brake suddenly. One of them tried to get round him but Deacon had, by then, re-started the car and started to moved off. This almost caused a collision.

The accused, the Inspector said, continued along Moseley Road intending to turn left into Thornby Avenue. Here he nearly collided with a motor-bike, who had to slow down. Mr Sergeantson said that Mr Deacon first had a motor cycle in 1911, and had been driving cars for 40 years. Of the offences, he said that Mr Deacon was; “An old man out on the road, who was not really aware of what he was doing”.

It was explained that for his dangerous driving and driving whilst disqualified, a prison sentence could have been imposed. But, Mr. Maddocks, presiding, said; “We have decided not to send him to prison at his age but to disqualify him from driving for ten years, the fines are only nominal“.

NABBED SLABS

A 26-year-old scrap dealer of no fixed abode and his 20-year-old girlfriend were charged at court with stealing 60 paving slabs from the Royal Showground on July 10th. Ivor Taylor was fined £15 and Celia Hamilton of Buxton was put on probation for two years.

Insp. Albert Cox said that the couple owned a lorry and for the past two or three months had been taking goods to the Royal Show site. The Inspector said; “Their lorry became quite well known and after the show had finished they were able to go into the grounds uninterrupted”. He added that the couple were seen by two men, loading the slabs onto the lorry, who then reported them to police. In a statement, Taylor said; “I realise what a fool I have been and I am only sorry my girlfriend had to be involved”.

POLICE BARELY CAUGHT THEM

Eight Coventry youths, aged between 18 and 21 went for a midnight ‘skinny-dip’ in the open air baths in the Abbey Fields on June 6th. They were John Grey (18), Andrew Scott (20), Garry Owen (20), Richard Craddock (19), Roger Mellwraith (21), Bernard Ferris (21), David Winter (19) and Ralph Dolby (21). They were each fined 10 shillings (50p).

Insp. Albert Cox said that a police officer heard the boys, five of which were caught plus three others who had disappeared into the darkness, but they later returned. Insp. Cox also said that there was always trouble of some sort in the Abbey Fields but the culprits weren’t caught every time. He told the bench; “We were able to catch these boys because we confiscated their clothes while they were swimming“. They wouldn’t have got far without them.

PRIEST WASN’T PAYING ENOUGH ATTENTION

After a collision, a Leamington priest was charged with driving without ‘due care and attention’ at Bericote crossroads on May 7th. The Rev. James Murphy of St. Bede’s College, pleaded not quilty but the case was found proven against him. He was fined £7 and ordered to pay £1-2s-4d in court costs and his licence was endorsed.

The 17-year-old motor cyclist involved in the accident, Philip Bunting of Warwick, said that he was travelling home from Coventry. As he approached the crossroads he saw a car coming towards the halt-sign on the minor road. “I am sure it stopped” said Mr Bunting; “I accelarated but the car pulled out and it was nearly half-way across the main road when the collision occurred”. Continuing, he said; “I hit the front of the car and travelled further up the road. I couldn’t stop straight away because my left leg was broken”.

Mr Maddocks, presiding, said that the bench knew the visibility was bad at that crossroads because of a hedge and recommended that the County Council should look into the matter. Inspector Cox told the magistrates that recommendations had already gone through as a watch had been kept on several crossroads at the time of the Royal Show.

BOYS ‘KNOCKED OFF’ BIKES

Two Kenilworth boys, one aged 9 and the other aged 12, admitted at the juvenile court to offences of cycle stealing. The younger boy was given a conditional discharge but the older boy was put on probation for two years. Both stole cycles from outside of Kenilworth swimming baths and then sold them. The three cycles concerned were said to have been sold for the price of just 2s-5d each. (bargins!)

DREAM RIDER

For riding his bicycle on a footpath in the Abbey Fields, a 15-year-old boy was fined 5 shillings at the juvenile court. The boy said that he did it; “sub-consciously, I didn’t give it a thought”.

ARRESTED AS THEY RESTED

A tall story was told to a police officer when he apprehended two men in a summer-house in the garden of a house in High Street. “We were only resting” said one of them, 48-year-old Robert Matthews, of no fixed abode. The officer saw to it that Matthews and his 27-year-old accomplice, Reginald Mariner, who also does not boast a home address, were escorted to a cell at Kenilworth Police Station.

At court, both admitted being on enclosed premises for unlawful intent. Both were found guilty and sentenced to 3 months in prison. For Matthews it will be his 16th prison term. His criminal record was triggered in 1940, and has since made 18 court appearances. These led to a total of 22 and a half years of convictions, in which he has served about 20 years. Matthews told the bench his troubles began after he was torpedoed during the war, and he added that a man who has incurred as many prison sentences as I have, could not be normal.

The arrest of the two men, said Insp. Albert Cox, was due to the keen observation of an off-duty Coventry policewoman who also lived in High Street. She had noticed them hanging about and kept an eye on them from a window. When they thought the coast was clear they shinned over a wall into the garden where the summer-house was located. She then phoned the police. At the station, Matthews shouldered the blame for the intended escapade. Mariner said he would not have been involved but for the fact that a few drinks had dulled his “sense of responsibility”.

‘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”. Insp. 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. 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 7th August – 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 Insp. 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. Insp. 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”. PC 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. Insp. 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. Insp. 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. DS 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.” Both were fined £5.

A ROGUE AT THE SHOW

Described by Mr. Claridge, chairman of the magistrates, as an ‘Incorrigible rogue’, Bernard Shaw (26) was before the court on charges of theft after he kept a leather wallet and a driving licence that he had apparently ‘found’ at the Royal Show on July 8th.

Sgt C. W. Skerritt said that Mr. David Foot of Weymouth left his jacket on a sheep pen while attending the show. When returning later he discovered that his wallet containing his driving licence and £15 in cash had disappeared. But surprisingly, Sgt Skeritt pointed out to the court that “There is no suggestion that the accused stole the cash”. Shaw, who was arrested in Burnley, Lancashire, was married with a small child. He said in a statement that he started work at the Royal Show site for a building firm and while clearing out a stand he found the wallet. Shaw had numerous previous convictions. After pleading quilty to stealing by finding of the wallet and a driving licence, valued at 11 shillings, he was sent to prison for three long-months.

NOT ME CLAIMED MCNAMEE

Between half-past three and 4 o’clock on a Sunday morning, Michael Scotcher of Offa Drive, found sleep impossible. There were noises, the sort that should not be heard at night, noises made by an un-welcome visitor, a thief. Scotcher went into his bathroom and noticed the window was wide open and there was a footmark on the window still. His trousers, which had been left on a chair were on the floor and 10 shillings had disappeared from one of the pockets. Police made inquires and DS John Smart questioned 19-year-old Patrick McNamee, also from Offa Drive, who lived only a few doors along from Scotcher. When questioned, McNamee retorted; “You will have to prove it then, because it wasn’t me”. But later at the police station, McNamee admitted; “I want to tell you everything. It was me who done that house in Offa Drive”. He added; “The only reason I broke into the house was because I was out of work and desperate for money”. He was remanded in custody and his application for bail was refused due the gravity of the offence. He will appear, charged with theft, at the next Warwickshire Quarter Sessions.

PAIRED-UP AND PILFERED

Two naughty 10-year-old girls were conditionally discharged for a year at the juvenile court after they admitted stealing four sums of money. Michael Coker, representing one of the girls, said they both came from good homes and had not been in trouble before. It seemed that when they get together these things happened. It was like a new game to them. The girl’s horrified parents have undertook to try and keep them apart in the future, that’s the only solution.

BASH AND CASH MEN SET FOR SESSIONS

The adjourned case of two men was resumed on charges of assault on a policeman, and theft of money from telephone cash-boxes. “I’ll murder you, you b………….” was the alarming threat PC Anthony Highton was alleged to have heard when he apprehended 26-year-old William Anthony Bush, a factory worker from Leamington. He pleaded not guilty to the assault, so he was remanded by the court and will go forward to the next Warwickshire Quarter Sessions for trial. Also charged jointly with Bush, was Peter David Goode, a 25-year-old a press operator also from Leamington for stealing two telephone cash-boxes from kiosks in Kenilworth over the evening of August 22nd/23rd. Both pleaded quilty to the theft of the boxes. Goode was also remanded to the Warwickshire Quarter Sessions. Prosecuting, Mr. F. G. Owen said that in August there was an “outbreak” of telephone cash-box thefts in the areas of Kenilworth, Leamington and Warwick. So, police had been paying extra attention to the kiosks. The attacked police officer, PC Highton stated; “At about 12.35 a.m. on August 23rd, as I was cycling towards the Blundells, I noticed a car parked at the enterance. “My attention was drawn to a telephone box in Albion Street because the light was out but saw a man crouching down inside it, so I got off my bike and walked towards the kiosk. Bush came out of the kiosk still crouching down. He seemed to have a bulky object under his jacket. He made off towards the Blundells and I went after him, and as I passed the kiosk I flashed my lamp inside and I saw that the cash-box had disappeared. I caught up with Bush and said; “I’m going to arrest you for stealing the cash container from the telephone kiosk”. I then cautioned him. “I went to take hold of his right arm, he swung round, taking an object from under his jacket and said “I’ll murder you, you b………..”. He aimed a blow at me which knocked my helmet off. “Before I took any avoiding action, he struck me again just above my left wrist with what appeared to be a metal instrument”. He was hit again and fell to the ground. Bush ran off down the Blundells and entered a waiting car. “I was able to take the registration number as it drove away.” said PC Highton. He then went to the telephone box in Albion Street and dialled 999 for assistance. He saw the car in which Bush and Goode had got away in, travelling along Albion Street. He waved the vehicle to stop but it drove past him. The car was soon stopped by a patrol car and both were taken to the police station. In the car, PC Highton found two screwdrivers, a pair of pliers and a hammer. He also discovered a cash-box and a piece of metal about 16″ long which resembled a tyre lever. “It was the weapon Bush used on me when I tried to arrest him”, said the officer. In the boot of the car he found another cash-box which had been taken from a kiosk in Roseland Road. In the scuffle in the Blundells, PC Highton sustained a deeply lacerated left wrist, a bruised right elbow and a swollen left albow. He was off duty for eight days.

WENT BACK TO HIS EX-EMPLOYER THROUGH A BACK WINDOW

19-year-old Alan Fitchett of Finham Road had been made redundant from Kenilworth Bodies, in Whitemoor Road, but decided to return late one night and entered through a back window. Fitchett, still unemployed, appeared at court on a charge of stealing £12 from the premises of his ex-employer. He explained his misdeed by saying; “I was worried about my wife and I have no money to pay bills”. He was interviewed by DS John Smart, to whom he was alleged to have said; “It was not me”, but later admitted; “Alright then, I broke in there, it was me”. In a statement Fitchett said; “On Tuesday night last week I went for a drink then I decided to break into Kenilworth Bodies.” He also admitted stealing 22 shillings from an electricity meter in his home and breaking into the clubhouses of the Wardens Cricket Club and Kenilworth Cricket Club. There he did not find any money to pilfer. The decision of the bench was to send Fitchett to a detention centre for three months.

STOLE CAR KEYS TO PLAY SWAPS

Many youngsters collect and swap ‘fag’ cards. But three Kenilworth boys decided to that swapping stolen car ignition keys was a much better hobby. In front of the juvenile court, were a trio of boys, two aged 16 and the other 15. Each were fined £6 with 13s-9d in costs. Insp. Albert Cox said that on two occasions the boys stole a total of seven ignition keys from vehicles parked in the Bear and Ragged Staff car park. DC Ian Rule, caught-up with one of the boys in the Abbey Fields, and he admitted the offences. When the other boys were interviewed they also confessed that they were involved with the thefts. The boys asked for nine other offences to be taken into consideration. Another 16-year-old Kenilworth boy was fined £1 with 13s-9d costs for receiving car keys. It was explained in court the boys took the keys to swap for others. Mrs L. Smalley, chairman, said the thefts were just “childish and stupid tricks”.

HELPED HERSELF FROM SELF-SERVICE STORE

The court was told, that whilst shopping at the Fine Fare self-service supermarket in Warwick Road, a 58-year-old Kenilworth spinster stole a pound of butter and some gammon. Housekeeper, Lilly Watts of Stoneleigh Ave, pleaded guilty to the thefts. Remarking about supermarkets, Insp. Albert Cox said; “These are places which display their goods to all and sundry, and there is a temptation for people just to take stuff”.

He said that Watts was shopping in the supermarket on 3rd September and was putting several articules into a basket. But the manager saw her slip the butter and gammon into her own basket. He told the cashier about the incident. After paying for the goods in the store’s basket, the cashier asked if she had anything else on her. Watts said she had not. But when the manager approached her, Watts admitted the thefts. She was fined £2.

CIGS COST HER NEARLY £1 EACH

At court, a 48-year-old Kenilworth woman alleged to be earning £9-a-week, stole 30 cigarettes from the self-service supermarket, Fine Fare in Warwick Road. Winifred Ellen Bucknill of Mortimer Road, pleaded guilty to the theft.

Insp. Albert Cox said that Bucknill was shopping in the supermarket at around 12.45p.m. on October 8th. The store’s assistant manager saw her take the cigarettes and place them in a basket provided by the store. However, when she went to pay, she did not declare them to the cashier. When the manager questioned her, she said, she had not taken them. But later, when the police were called, she admitted all.

The bench were told she had previous convictions of a similar nature. The court showed no sympathy, and fined her a right packet – £25.

NOT SO CLEVER ‘LITTER LOUT’

Norman Parkinson of Coventry was not-so-clever as he ought to have been, when he set out to dump a pile of junk which included: three tin cans, a pedal operated bin, cardboard boxes, paper, bricks, a cement bag, a car battery and a box of rubbish. The place he chose to convert into a wayside tip was a country lane, Cryfield Grange Road, which connects the Coventry Road to Crackley Lane.

To the defendant’s dismay, he was traced by the painstaking work of a policeman, who discovered amongst the junk a bit of paper bearing his name and address. Which proved very useful indeed.

The magistrates dumped a fine of £5 on Mr. Parkinson for ‘depositing litter’.

THE STAGGERING MAN

A Kenilworth man, Russell Carpenter of Warwick Road, appeared before the court on charges of being “drunk in charge of a motor-car”. Inspector Albert Cox said that at 10.50pm on Monday 11th November, PC Angus Dick saw Carpenter ‘staggering’ along Warwick Road and later watched him get into the driving seat of a car at the rear of the Bear and Ragged Staff public house. When questioned by the constable, Carpenter did not say anything. He was then taken to Kenilworth Police Station where a doctor stated that he was not fit to drive. (In other words, he was drunk as a judge). Mr W. H. Hibbs, defending, said that whilst in a pub, Carpenter surrendered the key of his car to a friend. Later, the defendant left the pub and as he walked along Warwick Road, the person to whom he had given the key, pulled up along side him and gave it back to him. He went to his car not to drive it but to lock it up, said Mr Hibbs. But the trouble was, he was inside the car. The magistrates did not believe a single word, and fined him a staggering £20 – more than a weeks-wages for a lot of people at the time.

“THERE’S NOTHING TO DO IN KENILWORTH”

There is a degree of truth in the often levelled criticism that there is ‘nothing to do in Kenilworth’. But it does not cut much ice when used as an excuse by the ‘nothing-to-doers’ to get mixed up with mischief and crime. Seven boys had an appointment at the juvenile court, where they got a frosty reception from the bench. All were Kenilworth lads between the ages of 13 and 16. They were either connected individually or jointly with a whole string of offences. They included break-ins and thefts from local cricket and football clubs. Namely, Kenilworth Cricket Club, Thomas Bates Cricket Club and Rangers Football Club. They were also involved in driving away motor-cars without the owners consent, driving without insurance, stealing car ignition keys and driving while under age, etc, etc. The case of the pilfering from the Thomas Bates pavillion which concerned three of the ‘magnificant seven’, aged 13, 14 and 16 was adjourned for three weeks, pending further inquires. Guilty pleads were entered on all the other charges. Penalties included, fines, probation, and disqualification from obtaining driving licences. In court, one of the older boys advanced the ‘nothing-to-do’ theme by stating to the bench; “This was not hooliganism, there is nothing to do in Kenilworth, we did it once and then we thought it was easy”. (Well, that’s alright then)

CHAT WITH HER PAL COST HER A FEW BOB

At court was Marion McMaster of Randall road, who, when she saw a former work colleague along Warwick Road decided to stop her car and have a natter. Trouble was, where she decided to park, only feet from a pedestrian crossing, was contrary to the highway-code, let alone dangerous and obstructive. A police officer booked her on the spot and the magistrates fined her £2 for her troubles, and endorsed her licence.

BEATLE FANS DAFT DANCE

“Although we appreciate that the Beatle’s music does do things to these young lads, I think this was going a bit too far, it was dangerous” said Inspector Albert Cox at the juvenile court. He was speaking during a case in which two 16-year-old boys were charged with wilfully obstructing the free passage of traffic. The bench heard that traffic was held-up in Rosemary Hill because the two boys felt it was a good idea to start ‘Jiving and waving their arms about’ in the middle of the road with Beatle’s music blaring from a transistor radio held by friends on the pavement. Amongst the audience was by PC Victor Terry, who quickly stopped the boys performance. And for the record, their jiving on a ‘Long and winding road’, cost them fines of £1 each.

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