Indecent Assault And Robbery

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30741, 4 May 1965, Page 3

Indecent Assault And Robbery

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 3. A sentence of preventive detention (maximum 14 years) was imposed by Mr Justice Hutchison in the Supreme Court today on Daniel Spence Andrew, aged 48, unemployed, when he appeared for sentence on two charges of robbery, one of indecent assault on a female, one of burglary and one of theft from the person.

He had pleaded guilty to the charges in the Magistrate’s Court, when evidence was given that he attacked a woman in the Mount Victoria tunnel on March 29. For Andrew, Mr M. A. Bungay said the prisoner did not intend to cause serious physical injuries to any of his victims.

When he realised the extent of his action, he voluntarily went to the police and confessed.

His was a pathetic case, said counsel. He had spent 11 of the last 13 years in prison and was a social misfit. Counsel submitted the appropriate sentence, would be one of preventive detention with the recommendation that Andrew receive psychiatric treatment. His Honour said that Andrew’s criminal record began in 1937, after which there was a long gap until 1952. From then he had a long list of convictions.

While in gaol he was a model prisoner, but once out of prison he had committed a spate of five offences within a month.

His Honour said he would recommend that Andrew be given psychiatric treatment as might be found suitable. Mr W. R. Birks appeared for the Crown.