A "PEEPING TOM."

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 228, 26 September 1930, Page 5

A "PEEPING TOM."

YOUNG MAN CAUGHT. «BEDTIME AT BAYSWATER. «WANTS A GOOD HIDING." ADMISSIONS TO POLICE. Bavswater's bedtime prowler was acting the part of a "peeping Tom" on August 25. and he appeared in the Police Court this morning and pleaded guilty to a charge of being found without lawful excuse on enclosed premises in Norwood Eoad. Sub-Inspector Shanahan said complaints had been made to the Takapuna police about a man prowling about houses in Norwood Eoad at night .ngd peering in at windows. On August 22, aboutlo.3o p.m.. a married couple were about to retire to bed. The wife had already gone to her bedroom, and her husband was in the bathroom. He heard someone outside, and on opening the window saw a young man a few feet away looking in through the bedroom window. 011 August 25 Mr. E. G. Tucker was returning home about 10 p.m., when he saw a man walking off the verandah of a house. Thinking that the man was acting suspiciously, he walked back and watched him. The man walked to the front of the house and afterwards went into an adjoining property, where he crouched behind a hedge. ' Mr. Tucker went to the house and aroused the-occupants. The owner joined him and the two went to the vacant section and caught accused and detained him until Constables Maloney and Wood, of Takapuna, arrived. "This young man admits, in a statement which he made to Constable ood, that for three week* prior to August 25 he had been going to houses in Norwood F.oad at night, looking through windows for ihe purpose of watching women and gills going to bed," said the subinspector. "I generally leave home about S p.m. and stay out till 11 p.m.," said accused iu the statement. "I usually went out two nights a, week. One night I went to a house in Norwood Koad and saw a couple going to bed. I don't know what- I did it i'or. It never occurred to me that I would be frightening women. I never chased any women/' Mr. Shanahan said accused had never been in trouble before. He was an apprentice and resided with his mother at Bays water. His father was working away from Auckland. He went to night school several nights each week. The Magistrate, Mr. F. K. Hunt: What he wants is plenty of work at night, and a good hiding. The probation officer, Mr. W. J. Campbell, agreed, but said that if the man werQ convicted it would affect his employment. Sir. Hunt decided to adjourn the case for six months. "Look here, young man, if you get up to any of these "tricks again, I'll send you to gaol for six months." he said.