§ Mr. Loftusasked the Home Secretary whether he will take into consideration the youth of the girl, aged 19, who was sentenced at Wisbech on 12th October, to a fine of £1and to a month's imprisonment for using an electric-torch during black-out hours, with a view to recommending a reduction of the sentence?
§ Sir J. AndersonI understand that this was a case of persistent and wilful defiance of the Lighting (Restrictions) Order. The girl had been warned by the police about her conduct in flashing a torch about the streets and in the faces of passers-by, six times on four successive nights before the offence in respect of which she was charged, and she repeated the offence on two subsequent occasions before the charge was heard. Her conduct was such that torches had to be taken from her by the police on four separate occasions. I have been unable to find any grounds on which I should feel justified in recommending any interference with the sentence imposed by the Court.