A 36-YEAR-OLD BIRKENHEAD MAN WHO RETURNED TO CRIME

A 36-YEAR-OLD BIRKENHEAD MAN WHO RETURNED TO CRIME AND BECAME
AN ALCOHOLIC AFTER BEING MUGGED RECEIVED THE SYMPATHY OF THE COURT OF
CRIMINAL APPEALS TODAY (MON).

WILLIAM BERNARD MURRAY, OF BRUNSWICK COURT, BIRKENHEAD, WAS
TOLD HE HAD AN APPALLING CRIMINAL RECORD, BUT A TWO-YEAR PERIOD OF NO
CONVICTIONS SHOWED A GENUINE ATTEMPT AT REFORM.

MR JUSTICE OGNALL, SITTING WITH LORD JUSTICE O’CONNOR AND
JUSTICE MICHAEL DAVIES, SAID MURRAY’S RETURN TO CRIME BEGAN IN MAY
1985 AFTER BEING RETRENCHED.

“HE WAS NOT ONLY UNEMPLOYED BUT UNEMPLOYABLE AFTER HE WAS
MUGGED AND INJURED,” HE SAID
“HE BECAME AN ALCOHOLIC, WHICH LED TO THESE OFFENCES.

”
MURRAY WAS JAILED FOR 12 MONTHS LAST MAY AFTER PLEADING GUILTY
TO STEALING A NEST OF TABLES FROM A STORE, WHILE SERVING A SIX-MONTH
SUSPENDED SENTENCE OVER TWO YEARS, ALSO FOR THEFT.

MR JUSTICE OGNALL SAID MURRAY HAD BEEN “SUBJECTED TO ALL
POWERS OF THE COURT” SINCE 1965, BUT HIS RECORD SHOWED A GAP IN
CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES OF MORE THAN TWO YEARS.

“THIS COURT IS IMPRESSED THAT AFTER A COURT APPEARANCE LAST
OCTOBER, MR MURRAY HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT EFFORTS TO WEAN HIMSELF OFF
DRINK.

,” THE JUDGE SAID.

“WHEN WE LOOK AT THESE EFFORTS, PARTICULARLY IN THE TWO YEARS
NO OFFENCES WERE COMMITTED, THE 12-MONTH SENTENCE IS CONSIDERED TOO
LONG.

”
THE JAIL TERM WAS REDUCED BY SIX MONTHS.

ENDS.