South Yorkshire Times, December 2nd, 1932.
A Sea Of Trouble
Denaby Man’s Multitude of Offences
A Denaby colliery engine driver, Clarence Griffen, was told that he was liable to fines amounting to £95 when he appeared before the Doncaster magistrates on Tuesday for having driven a motor-cycle combination without a licence and without an insurance policy; exhibiting a defaced Road Fund licence; not having a Road Fund licence, and having stolen by finding a Road Fund licence. His cousin Sidney Griffen, a Denaby miner, was charged with assisting in the theft of the Road Fund licence.
P.c Holmes said that on September 19th he was on duty in Doncaster Road, Denaby, when he saw Clarence Griffen driving a cycle combination with two passengers. When Griffen saw witness he turned round and his manner was suspicious. Because of this witness made inquiries and later saw Griffen and found that the Road Fund licence on the machine had been altered.
Defendant told witness that it was on the machine when he bought it When told he would be summoned, defendant replied, “Make it as light as you can.” The registration number, and the make of the machine had been altered on the licence.
The constable added that defendant had told him he had not had a licence for ten years but he had had three machines and used them without licences. Regarding the charge of “stealing by finding,” Griffen had said, “I found it about two weeks ago when my cousin Sidney was with me. I altered it so I could use it on my machine.”
Horace Booth, Sheffield Road, Warmsworth, said that on September 20th, in response to a message, he visited Conisborough police station where he was shown a Road fund licence which, though altered, belonged to him.
Clarence Griffen pleaded guilty to the first four summonses and admitted finding the Road Fund licence.
It was stated by Inspector Redfern that lie had been twice convicted for theft while Sidney had been before the court on three previous occasions and had been sent to prison for a month for theft.
The Chairman (Mr.G. Shiffner) pointed out that Clarence Griffen was liable to fines amounting to £95. He was fined £5 in all and his licence suspended for 12 months. He replied, “I shall not want one.” His cousin was fined 40s., which he was ordered to pay at 10s. a week.