DARWIN, Mon: Donald Speed, 37, of Toorak, Melbourne, managing director of Autoterms Ltd, was today sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment with hard labour by Judge Wells in Darwin Supreme Court.
Speed had been found guilty at the Supreme Court sittings last month of having stolen a number of radio and other valves, the property of the RAAF, during a disposals sale last October, and had been remanded for sentence on the application of his counsel, Mr C. P. Monahan, KC, so that he could apply to the High Court for leave to appeal. The High Court refused leave.
Mr V. Dimelow, of Melbourne, who appeared for Speed, told the Court today that no evidence had been adduced during the hearing to indicate the value of the valves or that the theft had been planned. Speed had already been punished severely by the prolonged proceedings and by the cost of his defence, which was "astronomical."
In passing sentence. Judge Wells said that too much sympathy was extended to criminals.
Source: Trove The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Tuesday 27 July 1948 Page 5