5 Minute Sentences for a criminal offence (General)

by lesleyr , London, Thursday, February 09, 2012, 14:44 (4677 days ago)

Hello,
While researching my Hale ancestors, I came across an entry in the English Criminal Records for Gloucestershire:
Moses Hale Senior, Moses Hale Junior and Cornelius Knight were tried at the Gloucester Lent Assizes of 1831 for “feloniously damaging a mine”. Moses Senior was acquitted but Moses Junior and Cornelius were sentenced to imprisonment for “5 minutes”. I looked very carefully to make sure it was not 5 months but it is definitely 5 minutes. Can anyone explain why they were given such short sentences please?
Regards,
Lesley