ASSAULT ON CHILD

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27470, 2 October 1954, Page 10

ASSAULT ON CHILD

YOUTH SENT TO BORSTAL

“ MOST SERIOUS OFFENCE ”

(New Zealand Press Association) TAIHAPE, October 1. “I have given this case very serious and grave thought,” said Mr S. S. Preston, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court, when he sentenced Robert Oakley, a farm labourer, aged 18, of Mangaweka, to two years’ detention in a Borstal institution. Oakley was convicted of assaulting a child under 14 years of age.

‘‘l view this offence as most serious —that a little girl aged six years should be treated in this way by a youth like this, and that she should be waylaid on her way home from school as she was,” said the Magistrate. “I have a very definite duty to the parents of young children, and I do not propose dodging it. One of the penalties that are denied me, but which would meet the case, is a thorough birching.

‘‘The father of this youth is not interested in his son,” said the Magistrate. “He is not here when his son is facing a very serious charge. The father has not done his duty by the family. This youth is engaged in casual work, and has not been under parental supervision. His mother has been left to carry the burden, and I am very sorry for her. “I have a duty to the people and I do not intend to shirk it,” said the Magistrate. “This youth needs discipline and should have trade training. I propose, therefore, to convict him and to sentence him to two years’ detention in a Borstal institution. “There he will receive the discipline I feel is necessary, and also the trade training he should have, andwhen he is released he may, I hope, have overcome this uncontrollable desire to interfere with young children.” Asking for the suppression of his client’s name, Mr Ongley said the child involved in the case had no recollection of what had taken place. Other children in the family were going to the same school, and they would suffer if Oakley’s name was published.

“I have every sympathy to offer, but the offence is very serious. I would be the last person to want children to suffer for the sins of another,” said the Magistrate.