Birch for robbers

The Times, London, 17 April 1947,

They all pleaded “Guilty” to being armed with an automatic pistol and together robbing George Sidney Judges, aged 66 and lame, of £132 at his shop in Vassall Road, Brixton.For robbery with arms at Brixton three of a gang of four men were at the Central Criminal Court yesterday ordered to be birched. PETER JOHNSON, a coloured seaman, of Trent Road, Brixton, was sentenced to 11 months’ imprisonment and 15 strokes of the birch; ALFRED WILLIAM KNIGHT, 20, soldier, of Trematon House, Kennington, nine months and 12 strokes; his brother, CYRIL JOHN KNIGHT, 24, fitter, of Myatt Road, Brixton, stated to be unfit for corporal punishment, to 18 months; and RONALD BELL, 17, toolmaker, also of Brixton, to Borstal and 12 strokes. ERIC WILLIAM HANSON, 23, barman, was at the Central Criminal Court yesterday sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment and 12 strokes of the cat, and ALFRED CHRISTOPHER FOY, 21, labourer, was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment and 12 strokes of the birch, for robbing Emily Henri, 78, of Gloucester Street, Victoria, of 30s. with violence, to which they pleaded “Guilty.”