£100 FINE FOR INDECENCY

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27500, 6 November 1954, Page 10

£100 FINE FOR INDECENCY

TWO CHARGES OF OBSCENE EXPOSURE (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, November 5. "It is very difficult to know how to deal with a man who has sacrificed so much for the lust of a few minutes,” Mr H. Jenner Wily, S.M., told Peter Ellis Dempeey, aged 29, a salesman, who appeared before him for sentence in the Magistrate's Court today. Dempsey was fined £5O on each of two charges of obscene exposure. He had pleaded guilty a fortnight ago, .and was convicted and remanded for sentence till today. Dempsey was described by his counsel, Mr R. H. Duncan, as "a young man of unusual promise, who has completely wrecked his career by not having sought assistance to overcome his aberration.’ _ - Counsel said Dempsey's appearance in Court was a punishment worse than any penalty the Court could impose. Dempsey's wife, his wife's parents and his own parents stood behind him, and would assist him to overcome his affliction. ~ “I ask the Court to consider the punishment as virtually complete,” said Mr Duncan. “There is little the Court can do to lower this man further.” “These are disgraceful acts,” the Magistrate told Dempsey. “You have suffered the loss of what you aimed at Perhaps you will never recover it.” Any punishment by the Court would not equal what Dempsey was suffering through this loss, and. through the damage to himself and his family, said the Magistrate. “Imprisonment is not a proper course, as you are a first offender, the Magistrate said. "Imprisonment might mean that I would kill any urge you may have to cure yourself. Nor would probation be correct. “If you do not, through this, obtain the willpower to heal yourself of these obscene acts, there is little anyone can do for you. You can, if you wish, rise above this,” the Magistrate concluded.