Youth Gaoled For Three Years For Assault

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31032, 12 April 1966, Page 9

Youth Gaoled For Three Years For Assault

(N.Z Prest Association) HASTINGS. April 8. Gaol terms ranging from three months to three years were imposed on a youth who assaulted a 99-year-old woman in Hastings last week. He appeared for sentence before Mr W. K. L. Dougall, in the Magistrate's Court yesterday. The Magistrate told the youth, Weita Tomo, a factory labourer, that his assault on Mrs Helen Smaill was vicious, as was the assault on Robert Andrew Stewart who tried to prevent Tomo’s escape from a house in Duchess crescent.

On Tuesday Tomo pleaded guilty to four charges of breaking and entering, three of theft, one of assault while attempting to escape from burglaries, one of unlawfully getting into a car, one of attempted conversion of a car, and one of attempted burglary. “I can see from your record and convictions that the community will only be safe while you are in prison,” the Magistrate said. “You have had training through the Child Welfare Department and at Borstal, but it is evident none of this has persuaded you to live a decent life.”

For the assault on Miss Smaill, Tomo was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment; for assault on Mr Stewart, three years; for breaking and entering the Eversley Home, one year: for breaking and

entering a house in Kitchener street, one year; for breaking and entering a house in Duchess crescent one year; for breaking and entering another house in Duchess crescent one year; for attempting to break and enter a home in Willowpark road, one year; for stealing a driver's licence, three months; for stealing a hat three months; for stealing £2 5s belonging to the Save the Children Fund, three months; for unlawfully getting into a car, three months; and for attempted conversion of a car, six months.

The terms are to be concurrent.