(1)Previous convictions against the accused shall not be laid before the jury, nor shall reference be made to them in presence of the jury before the verdict is returned.
(2)Nothing in subsection (1) above shall prevent the prosecutor—
(a)asking the accused questions tending to show that he has been convicted of an offence other than that with which he is charged, where he is entitled to do so under section 266 of this Act; or
(b)leading evidence of previous convictions where it is competent to do so under section 270 of this Act,
and nothing in this section or in section 69 of this Act shall prevent evidence of previous convictions being led in any case where such evidence is competent in support of a substantive charge.
(3)Previous convictions shall not be laid before the presiding judge until the prosecutor moves for sentence, and in that event the prosecutor shall lay before the judge a copy of the notice referred to in subsection (2) or (4) of section 69 of this Act.
(4)On the conviction of the accused it shall be competent for the court, subject to subsection (5) below, to amend a notice of previous convictions so laid by deletion or alteration for the purpose of curing any error or defect.
F1(5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(6)Any conviction which is admitted in evidence by the court shall be entered in the record of the trial.
(7)Where a person is convicted of an offence, the court may have regard to any previous conviction in respect of that person in deciding on the disposal of the case.
(8)Where any such intimation as is mentioned in section 69 of this Act is given by the accused, it shall be competent to prove any previous conviction included in a notice under that section in the manner specified in section 285 of this Act, and the provisions of the said section shall apply accordingly.