‘Uncle’ fined $500

Press, 22 October 1986, Page 4

‘Uncle’ fined $500

A man, aged 60, was fined $5OO when he appeared for sentence before Judge Erber in the District Court yesterday on a charge of indecently assaulting a girl, aged six. The Judge, in granting final suppression of the man’s name, said it was an offence in the strict legal sense, but without criminal intent. The Judge said he was moved by the support given the accused by neighbours in his immediate community who knew of the offence. The accused was regarded by them as an "Uncle babysitter” and it was their wish that he continue to be so. The actual offence appeared to have been caused by curiosity on the part of the girl which led to a sort of romp or skylarking, he said. Mr Markham Lee, for the defendant, said his client, “a man with a spotless record who was appearing for the first time in a court of law”

had not realised the seriousness of his behaviour. The accused committed the offence between May 26 and July 16. Details contained in the police summary were not read in open court. SUPERVISION An unemployed woman convicted of stealing two bags containing medical equipment, drugs, and books from a doctor’s car was sentenced, to super-

vision for 12 months. Sharon Smith, aged 30 (Mr W. Rosenberg) was warned by the Judge that any further offending would result in a term of imprisonment. She was also ordered to take drug rehabilitation treatment, and to abstain from using drugs.

Smith had denied the offence which occurred early on the morning of August 5.