Two-year jail term for indecencies

Press, 10 November 1988, Page 20

Two-year jail term for indecencies

The enormity of the accused’s offending was demonstrated by the tremendous harm he had done to the young woman, Mr Justice Holland said in the High Court yesterday.

A man, whose name was suppressed to protect the identity of his victim, was jailed for two years on two charges of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 12 and when she was over 12, who was his stepdaughter. The police statement said that the accused had constantly subjected the girl to indecencies from the ages of eight to 14. It was not until the girl, now aged 18, had counselling that the police were informed of the offences.

Last week, Mr Justice Holland was critical of the practice of the police preparing victim impact reports and called for the Social Welfare Department to supply one. For the accused, Mr Philip Hall said that his client had an inadequate personality as the result

of emotional deprivation during his formative years. He was unable to handle crises, had poor impulse control and had attempted suicide. There was no guarantee that the accused might offend in this way again but the possibility was remote according to the psychiatrist’s report. His Honour said that he would have to take into account that the offences related to conduct over five or six years. He was to be commended for pleading guilty and so saved the girl the ordeal of having to give evidence.

He agreed with Mr Raoul Neave for the Crown that there were no special circumstances in this case which would justify a noncustodial sentence being imposed.

The offences had ceased some five years ago and no other girls were involved. He hoped that the accused would never offend again, said His Honour.