Man jailed for sex offence on girl

Press, 3 September 1981, Page 5

Man jailed for sex offence on girl

A man. who was chased by rugby and tennis players in Woodham Park after he was seen interfering with a young girl, was jailed for four years by Mr Justice Holland in the High Court yesterday. Wally Poa, aged 43, had pleaded guilty to a charge of indecent assault on a girl, aged 10, on May 24. Evidence was given at the taking of depositions that Poa had visited the girl’s mother with two other persons. He returned later on a bicycle and took the girl, who was playing outside the property, to the park where the offence was committed. When he went to shift his bicycle the girl ran off and sought help at a tennis pavilion.

Mr. G. G. Nation, for Poa, said that the horror of what happened on May 24, from the girl’s point of view, and the attitude of society towards this type of offence would have been abundantly

clear to Poa from the time he was chased by the persons in the park. However, Poa was still adamant that he did not go to the girl’s home with the intention of taking the girl away.' The girl had joined him and at no stage had he forced her to go into the park with him. She ; was never a prisoner. It was clearly evident from Poa’s record that he was vulnerable to the kind of situation he found himself in with the girl. Poa was, to some extent a victim of circumstances but not to the same extent as the girl, because he was overcome by the situation. His record and probation report was that of an alcoholic, socially inadequate. lonely person lacking in self control, Mr Nation said.

His Honour said that originally Poa had been charged with rape but it was clear from the medical evi-

dence at the taking of depositions that that charge could not be upheld. It was obvious that Poa had not enticed the girl away and that she had gone with him willingly. Of course she was not willing to be indecently assaulted in a way that came close to attempted rape. Poa’s record was appalling and it showed that he was one of society’s failures. He was satisfied that Poa could not remain in the community without being tempted into crime. His crime record was fairly varied. His Honour said that he had an obligation to protect the community in general and young girls in particular, He took into account the fact that the crime was not premeditated and that by pleading guilty Poa had saved the girl and her playmates from the anguish of having to give evidence.