South Yorkshire Times, December 1st 1951
Crime Invitation Made In Jail ?
Three Years’ Sentence For West Melton Man
While he was on remand in Armley Prison, Leeds, a West Melton driver was contacted by a prisoner there, a “notoriously bad character,” who suggested he should participate in offences when free. This was stated at Leeds Assizes on Tuesday by defence counsel, Mr. D. Forester Paton, when Sidney Henry Lashmar (31), driver, of Top Yard, West Melton, was sent to prison for three years.
Mr. Justice Pilchard, passing sentence, said Lashmar had during the past ten months indulged in an orgy of crime.
Lashmar had pleaded guilty to receiving batteries, wires, stealing lead from a church roof at Laughton and being an accessory after the fact to the theft of 97,000 cigarettes from Kilnhurst railway sidings.
He asked for ten other offences involving property totalling £1,000 to be considered.
His counsel said Lashmar was contacted in Armley Prison by a man who was serving a sentence there. He suggested that when Lashmar was free he should participate in offences.
Counsel said when this man had finished his sentence he contacted Lashmar and asked him to move lead in his lorry. Lashmar did so without asking questions. Similar requests were made and Lashmar found himself more and more involved.
“I do not call it blackmail,” said. Mr. Paton, “but he kept on obliging these people as there was a threat that if the property was not moved the police would come and Lashrnar would implicated.”
Peter Hincliff (25), butcher of Albert Street, West Melton, was sentenced to 18 months for stealing lead from the church at Laughton.
Stanley Wogan (30), miner, of Stone Crescent, Worsborough Common, stated to be serving a nine months’ sentence for assaulting a police officer, was sent to prison for a further 30 months to follow the completion of his present sentence, for stealing lead from the church.
Reginald Hague (34) miner of Wilson Street, Mexborough, and Raymond Stead (21), miner, of Catherine Street, Mexborough, were each sent to prison for 12 months for stealing 112,000 cigarettes from the Kilnhurst railway sidings.
Hinchcliff asked for five other offences, and Wogan for two other offences to be considered.
Prosecuting Councel, Mr. Robert Lyons, referring to cigarettes stolen by Hague and Stead, said they were taken from stationary goods wagons at a siding. Lashmar had admitted being an accessory after the fact regarding 97,000 of these cigarettes.