Ananova UK, 22 August 2000

Spank me, your honour

A shoplifter who was asked the question of how he should be dealt with by a female judge in New Zealand replied: "I think you should spank me."

William Shanks, 68, was asked the rhetorical question by Judge Anne Gaskell at the Lower Hutt District Court in New Zealand after he admitted shoplifting.

Officials were not sure if the defendant was suggesting punishment or pleasure, The Dominion newspaper reports.

"Should I be able to delegate that," the judge mused, before postponing her decision and ordering that Shanks would be sentenced if he committed another offence within the next six months.

Shanks had pleaded guilty to stealing two torch batteries from a Wainuiomata supermarket.