SAILOR'S CRIMES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 239, 9 October 1942, Page 4

SAILOR'S CRIMES

CONVERSION, ASSAULT

TO SERVE EIGHT MONTHS

A young naval rating who admitted two charges of unlawfully converting to his own use motor cars valued at £185 and £280, two charges of assaulting females and another of mischief, was sentenced to a total of eight months' imprisonment by Mr. .1. H. Luxford. S.M., in the Police Court this morning. He was Victor William Creery. aged 19. for whom Mr. \V. W. Meek appeared.

Senior Detective Walsh said one car was taken by Creery on June 17 and the other on September 26. Both vehicles had been recovered undamaged. On the night of September 27 Creery attended a dance, where he made the acquaintance of a young woman. He asked her if he'could accompany her home and she consented. On arrival at her home accused made a suggestion to the girl, which she resented, whereupon Creery struck her heavily on the head with a torch. The girl then fled into the house. As Creery was leaving he picked up a milk 'bottle and hurled it through the window. Violent Attack On Girl "After leaving this house, and as he was walking down the street," added Senior Detective Walsh, "the accused met another young woman, and without reason attacked her. The girl was knocked down and she claims she was kicked. Creery then cleared out. While it appears that he did have some liquor that night, according to the story of the first girl he assaulted he was not. drunk. I his is the first time Creery has been in trouble. His people are reputable and it seems strange that he should have acted in this blackguardly manner. He has given some trouble on his ship, and not long ago he served .30 days for desertion." The offences which Creery had admitted were inexplicable as he had always been a young man of good behaviour, said Mr. Meek. However he had been drinking rather heavilv on September 27. He started drinking at noon and after consuming much licjuor that afternoon he booked in at a hotel, where he continued drinking until he left the hotel at 9 p.m. Creery s recollection of what occurred subsequently was not good. K.itings Must Behave Mr. Luxford: It is just as important in the public safety that ratings should obey orders and behave themselves ashore as they do afloat. These two assaults really amount to aggravated assaults. The fact that Creery has been sentenced for desertion shows that he is not amenable to discipline. On one charge of unlawful conversion Creery was sentenced to six months' imprisonment and convicted and discharged on the other, while he received a sentence of two months' imprisonment on each of the assault charges, one of these terms to be cumulative. Therefore Creerv will serve a total of eight months in prison. On the mischief charge he was convicted and discharged.