Corpun file 21621

The Times, London, 1 June 1929, p.9

Armed Burglars at Bayswater.

Two Young Men Sentenced.

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Sentence of 20 months' imprisonment with hard labour and 30 strokes with the birch was passed by the Recorder (Sir Ernest Wild, K.C.) at the Central Criminal Court on Thursday on JAMES LOCKHEAD, 19, porter, who pleaded "Guilty" to burglary in Queensborough-terrace, Bayswater, and to robbery while armed. The Recorder sentenced NORMAN WEEDON, 25, porter, who pleaded "Guilty" to the same charges, to 15 months' imprisonment in the second division.

Mr. FREDERICK LEVY, prosecuting, said the facts of the case were more suggestive of an Edgar Wallace novel than a drama in real life. Wearing masks and armed with revolvers, the prisoners broke into a boarding house in Queensborough-terrace and bound and gagged Mr. Vakharia, an Indian student. They tied Mr. Vakharia to the bed and threatened to shoot him if he did not say where he kept his money, and left him tied up to his bedstead. The prisoners also broke into another boarding house in Queensborough-terrace, where Miss Clara Goodman was in bed. In order to get help Miss Goodman flung her hot-water bottle across the room and shouted for help. She took some of her rings off and hid them in the bed. One of the prisoners put his hand over her face, nearly suffocating her. The prisoners also told her to put her hands up. She was still wearing two rings, and these they took. The prisoners before leaving apologized and returned Miss Goodman the rings and other articles which she said were of sentimental value.

Lockhead asked the Recorder to order him to receive a flogging with the "cat" once a month for three months rather than given him a long term of imprisonment.

THE RECORDER, in passing sentence on the prisoners, said he hesitated to order the "cat" to a person under age. The gravest part of the case was the double attack the prisoners committed in the first place on the harmless little Indian student, and, in the second place, on a courageous English lady. He would order that a reward of £5 each should be paid to Mr. Vakharia and to Miss Goodman, whose description of the two men had assisted in securing their arrest.