DRUNKENNES NO EXCUSE

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 76, 1 April 1929, Page 7

DRUNKENNES NO EXCUSE

YOUNG GIRL ASSAULTED.

FOLLOWED ALONG STREET.

BUILDER ADMITS OFFENCE

"Drunkenness is no excuse for such an offence, although you would probably have taken a more serious view of the matter had you been sober. ' Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M.. told William James Bachelor (30). a builder, who was fined £2 10/, plus costs £1 10/ at the Police Court today for an aggravated assault upon a girl of 14 on Saturday. Accused, for whom Mr. •!. -T. Sullivan appeared, pleaded guilty to this charge a.- well as to a charge of drunkenness in Clvde Street. Nowmarkot.

Sub-Inspector McCarthy said tiie girl was walking along Kanfurly Koad when she noticed Bachelor coming behind her. She quickened her pace and Bachelor d;J the same. The girl then crossed over the street, when she was still followed by the man. Bachelor later tripped the girl u[> and fell down on the footpath himself. He did not toucn her. The {rirl screamed and Bachelor ran away, but he was chased and caught by a man who was attracted by the screams of the girl. The girl was not injured, except that she tore the knees out of her stockings, and sustained abrasions. When arrested by a sergeant, accused was found to be drunk. ,

Mr. Sullivan said the facts spoke for themselves. Bachelor was drunk and did not remember what actually occurred. He was a married man with a wife and child, and had never been in any trouble previously. Counsel asked that he be dealt with leniently in view of the extenuating circumstances. On the drunkenness charge accused was fined 10/.