Name suppressed after police action in toilets

Press, 3 November 1984, Page 3

Name suppressed after police action in toilets

PA Wellington A man charged with indecently assaulting a plainclothes policeman believed the final activity had been consented to, the District Court in Wellington has heard.

A man, aged 37, had pleaded guilty to a charge of indecently assaulting a male on October 18.

Judge, Hobbs said that, having regard to the facts of the matter, lie would show what he thought by ordering the defendant to cbme up for sentence in six months if called' upon. He ordered the suppres-

sion of the man’s name and identity. There was no application by counsel for suppression of name. Sergeant lan Carmichael, prosecuting, told the Court that the defendant had been sitting in a car outside public toilets. A plainclothes policeman had entered the toilets and a short while later the defendant had entered and also stood at one of the urinals.' A short time late the offence took place. Counsel for the man, Mr Gary. Turkington, said it was clear from the summary of facts that no harm

had occurred to anyone. He said it was also clear that it was an undercover action concocted by the police. There had been a good deal of to-ing and froing from the complainant policeman and it was clear from the summary of facts that the defendant believed that the final activity described was consented to.

If an innocent party had been involved or a member of the public or a person of immature years, the Court might take a very serious view. But the offence was at the low end of the scale, he said.