December 7, 1963.

Two French teachers on an exchange with Tiffin Boys and Girls Schools found themselves facing a hasty ejection from the country after they stole from a West End shop, in this week in 1963.

The Comet headlined the story French Teachers Shoplifted with the subheading ‘recommended for deportation’.

The pair, a married man of 26, and a 19-year-old woman, were said to be employed under exchange arrangements at Tiffin Boys’ and Tiffin Girls’ School in Kingston.

They had hidden a cardigan, two ties, three ashtrays and other items worth a total of £8 10s under a cape before attempting to smuggle their stash out of the store – about £220 in modern money.

Marlborough Street magistrates recommended the married father of two, who was living in Hounslow, and the woman, from Woodside Road, Kingston, for deportation after they admitted the offence.

Detective George Dent told the court that after his arrest the man said: “We wanted to give our friends gifts and had no money.”

The shoplifter did not take the news of his criminal record well.

He covered his face with his hands and wept when he was sent to prison for a month and recommended for deportation, the Comet reported.

Magistrate Leo Gradwell said: “You took this girl with you stealing and arranged it pretty carefully.”

He fined the girl £10, but said that until a decision was made by the Home Office on his recommendation for her deportation she would not be kept in custody.

In a show of gentlemanliness – or sexism – the magistrate assumed that the woman was led along in the criminal conduct by her older male friend and appeared to give her a lesser sentence.

Mr Gradwell said: “I take it that you must have acted under the influence of this man.”

December 5, 2003 Developers CNM Estates were trying to win support for a flats and leisure development not far from Surbiton Sainsburys in this week in 2003.

The plans for flats on the former Surbiton sorting office in St Mary’s Road were eventually approved.

December 9, 1988 A pizza delivery service in Chessington was drawing ire and prophecies of late night noise from a vicar in 1988.

David Ward, of St Paul’s Church said he did not see why Pizza Hut in Arcade Parade should be allowed to stay open until midnight, or on Sundays.

December 7, 1963.

A 16-year-old boy caught with ‘Indian hemp’ – a 60s name for marijuana - and a sheath knife was sent to a boarding school in this week in 1963. He denied the acts but was found guilty and sent to an approved school.