Indecent assault admitted

Press, 15 May 1987, Page 8

Indecent assault admitted

A man, aged 35, who admitted indecently assaulting a girl, aged 10, told her, after realising what he had done, that she should never allow a person to touch her like that again, said Sergeant Pat Creasey in the District Court yesterday. The defendant was convicted by Judge Frampton who remanded him at large to June 4 for sentence. Interim suppression of the name of the defendant, a first offender, was continued.

On the evening of April 25 the defendant and other members of the girl’s family visited the defendant’s home. The two families were friends. The offence occurred later in the evening after the girl had been put to bed. The girl who was in bed, had asked the defendant to sit and read her a bedtime story. She asked him to rub her back. After doing this he kissed her and fondled her breasts. The girl has not objected and the defendant, who had earlier consumed some liquor, said he simply got carried away, said Sergeant Creasey. He said he had a fondness for the girl. After realising what he was doing the defendant had told the girl that she should never allow a person to touch her like that again. The Judge was told that the defendant, a first offender, was now seeking professional help. CORRECTIVE TRAINING Corrective training was imposed on a youth, aged 17, who, after stealing a

car in Christchurch, repainted it Because its brakes failed, it plunged down a 30ft bank into a river on the way to Nelson. The Judge said the possibility of $4OOO reparation being made by Richard Claude Harris, unemployed, was remote, and it was not ordered. Harris made six court appearances last year on a variety of charges and it seemed the various sentences imposd had had no effect on his further offending, said the Judge. Counsel, Mr Andrew Mclntosh, said others were involved but his client was the “fall guy.” Although the stolen vehicle had been extensively damaged this was because of brake failure. It was not a case where a vehicle had been wantonly destroyed. Mr Mclntosh said that in addition to whatever sentence his client received from the Court he had warned him that it was highly likely a civil claim would be made against him. DRUG CHARGES Bail was opposed for a man who faced charges of

manufacturing heroin, attempting to manufacture morphine, and escaping from the custody of a constable. John Peter Fearon, aged 27, a beneficiary, was remanded in custody. He committed the alleged offences in March. DRUG CHARGES Charges of possessing cannabis for sale or supply, and possessing cannabis seed, were denied by Robert James Fraser, aged 53, a slaughterman. Fraser (Mr Stanley Barker) is alleged to have committed the offence on April 29. He was remanded to June 11 for a defended hearing. THEFT CHARGE Albert Shortland, aged 18, a storeman, was remanded, without plea, on a charge of stealing carpet valued at $9OOO. Shortland is charged with stealing the carpet, the property of Canning Developments, Ltd, about July 25, 1985. He also faces charges of driving while disqualified, and driving with an excess blood-alcohol level. He is due to appear in court again on May 21.