Denaby Man Refused Another Chance – Three months with Hard Labour

February 1925

Mexborough & Swinton Times February 28th 1925

Denaby Man Refused Another Chance
Three months with Hard Labour

At the Doncaster West Riding Court on Monday, Benj. Manbridge, miner, 47 Balby Street, Denaby, was charged with obtaining groceries worth 10s. 8d. From Annie Elizabeth Robinson, Robinson, grocer, Church street, Mexborough, and pleaded guilty.

Supt. Minty said that on the 18th inst. Prisoner went to the shop and said he was lodging with Mrs. Whitehead, and she had said that Mrs. Robinson would supply him with groceries. She did not know the prisoner, and he was not living with Mrs. Whitehead, and had not her authority to get the goods. Believing his story, she supplied him with the goods. He told her he had been working at Denaby for six months, and that he had been to fetch his wife from Sheffield, but this was not true.

Prisoner said he had not intention of defrauding the woman. He had three children crying for something to eat. He added that he and his wife had been separated for 12 months, and she came back last week. He had been working at Cadeby since Christmas.

Cross-examined, he admitted that he had not paid his wife anything since Christmas. Before Christmas he worked at Cortonwood Colliery and Manvers Main, and his wages were now 18s. A day, but he had been off ill for three weeks.

Supt. Minty produced a list of previous convictions for theft, persistent cruelty and, last year, for embezzlement. For the latter he was sent to prison for three months.
Prisoner asked for another chance, and the Chairman (MR. R. L. Bingham) said he had had chances, but he did not seem to take advantage of them.
He was committed to prison for three months with hard labour.