MAN CHUEN v. THE QUEEN
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CACC000711/1968
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF HONG KONG
APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 711 OF 1968
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| BETWEEN | ||
| Man Chuen | Appellant | |
| AND | ||
| The Queen | Respondent |
Coram: Huggins, J.
Date of Judgment: 17 December 1968
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JUDGMENT
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Huggins, J:
1. The appellant pleaded guilty to larceny from the person and was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment. He appeals against that sentence. The case for the Crown was that the police kept the appellant under observation for some minutes: he was acting in a suspicious manner and clearly was looking for a victim from whom he could steal. Eventually he did steal a wallet from somebody's back trouser-pocket. He was arrested on the spot.
2. The appellant has a bad record. The first three convictions were for assault, for disorderely conduct and for robbery. Since 1957 he has twelve previous convictions, all except four of which were for drug offences: three were for offences of dishonesty. It is true that the appellant has never been given a chance in the sense that he has been conditionally discharged or put on probation, but having examined the record with care I am of opinion that the learned magistrate was fully justified in considering these forms of sentence to be inappropriate on the present occasion. I agree with him that a sentence of 15 months' imprisonment was appropriate and the appeal is dismissed.
17th December, 1968.
Representation:
Appellant in person
Mr. Duckett for the Respondent