Fine for Conisbrough Deserter

November 1966

South Yorkshire Times, November 19, 1966

Note: The name of the deserter has been changed

A Fine for Conisbrough Deserter.

A deserter from the foreign region was fined £20 or six wee’ks imprisonment at Bow Street, London, on Wednesday, for making a false statement for the purpose of procuring a passport

Mr William Abbott, prosecuting, said John James Smith (28), underground Miller, Oak Grove, Conisbrough, made an application for a British business passport on March 30, 1966, signing the form in the name of Robert William Reynolds. He stated that he was not in debt to the government in respect of repariation.

“He had, in fact, been repatriated on five occasions in the name of Smith and on two occasions in the name of Stevens. The sum of £125 was outstanding in respect of the repatriations,” Mr Abbott added.

Det. Sgt. George Cressy said Smith who pleaded guilty, had eight previous convictions, including one for obtaining a passport by a false application. After his last release from prison in February 1966, he travelled to France and enlisted in the foreign Legion, but later deserted.

He then returned to England and since August had been employed as underground tunneller at Doncaster, earning £35 a week.