WOMAN ASSAULTED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 10, 12 January 1940, Page 4

WOMAN ASSAULTED.

FOLLOWED AFTER MIDNIGHT.

LABOURER CONVICTED.

While walking to her home in Epsom at 12.30 this moaning a married woman was followed along Symonds Street (by a man who afterwards assaulted her in Boston Road near the Mount Eden police station. Shortly after the woman complained to Constable Rossiter this officer arrested Alan Lloyd (23), a labourer, in a nearly street on a charge of assault. Lloyd denied the charge when he (faced Mr. J. Morling, S.M., in 'the Police Court this morning. Mr. Aekins represented the accused.

The complainant said she was walking along Upper Symonds Street after visiting a friend in Karangahape Road, when she 'became aware that she was being followed. She crossed and recrossed the street near Symonds Street Post Office several times, but the man still folio wed her. After walking a short distance witness said she stopped immediately below a street light, whereupon the accused stood in front of her. "Why are you following me?" she asked the man, who replied, "What you think tlir.t?"

"Well," said witness, "if you are not following me go on in front or else go back. He did not go, but'eaught hold of me and put both his arms around me. I screamed, whereupon he ran away. I then went to the Mount Eden police station and made a complaint, giving Constable Rossiter a description of the inqn."

Constable Rossiter said he proceeded oil his cycle along Boston Road. but did not see anyone. In Aubyn Street he accosted Lloyd, who on being taken to the police station was identified by complainant. Lloyd showed signs of having consumed liquor.

Mr. Aekins submitted that the woman's story had not been corroborated.

"I am satisfied that he was the man," said the magistrate after hearing Lloyd in the witness box. "He gives a very hazy and unreliable account of his doings last night. If he went iliome with other people in a car he could have produced those i>eople to give evidence to-day. I think he did this while in • semidrunken condition. He probably did not realise what he was doing. Because of that I will not send him to prison." Lloyd was fined £5.