"APPALLING CASE."

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 224, 21 September 1935, Page 4 (Supplement)

"APPALLING CASE."

MAN GETS TEN YEARS. SERIOUS OFFENCES ALLEGED. Describing the case as appalling, the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Hewart, at the Old Bailey, passed sentence of ten years' penal servitude on Arthur Douglas Neve, 37, builder's labourer, of Tunbridge Wells. Neve pleaded guilty to serious offences against four little girls, and to less seriou? offences against two other girls. Mr. Gerald Howard, prosecuting, explained that the ages of the girls at the time of the offcnces ranged from seven to ten years, and the offences were committed between September and Christmas of last year. ' Detective Sergeant Frederick Siggers,' of Tunbridge Wells, told .the Court that Neve was a native of the town, and prior'to these matters nothing wUs kribvrti to his detriment. He was a marisied man :witli three children, all boys under nine, ; Neve reached the seventh standard at school and afterwards joined the Navy and served during the war. He was transferred to.the Royal Fleet reserve in 1927, and discharged, two years later with a good character and a gratuity of £60. He afterwards worked as a builder's labourer in Tunbridge Wells. Mr. E. Garth Moore, defending: Apart from these matters was he a model husband and father?— Yes. Expression. of Regret. Addressing the Judge, Mr. Moore expressed regret on behalf of Neve. Neve now realised the position in which he stood, and he had taken the only step in his power to atone by pleading guilty and sparing the children the ordeal of giving evidence about matters which it „ was better they ; forgot. Neve joined the Navywhen he was only 10 to fight for his country, and had borne an > admirable character up to the time of the offences. It was difficult to see any reason for his appalling lapse.. His life was now irretrievably ruined. Addressing Neve, the Lord Chief Justice told him: "You have corrupted and defiled a whole group of little children." His Lordship then passed sentence of ten years' penal servitude on the four serious counts, and two years' hard labour on the other two counts, the sentences to run concurrently.