POLICE COURT

Evening Star, Issue 25950, 15 November 1946, Page 8

POLICE COURT

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15. . (Before Mr J. D. Willis, S/M;> , ASSAULT ON GIRL/ “ This man has been three times before the court for assault on females,” commented Mr J. D.. Willis, S.M., sentencing John Joseph Doak, a labourer, to six months’ imprisonment, with hard labour,-for assault- on a girl 11 years of age. An alternative charge of indecent assault, arising from the same circumstances, was withdrawn by the court. “On his last appearance he was sentenced/to a month’s imprisonment, with hard labour. The medical report states that he is feeble minded, but that he knows that' he is doing wrong, but does not attempt to'control his impulse The acts such as the one under review are liable to continue. The only thing I can do is to impose a lengthy term” of imprisonment so . that young girls may be protected. The authorities can apply later - for him to he committed under section.3B;of the Mental Defectives Act. Imprisonment will be in his own, as well .as the , public’s, interest.” : ’ Accused . was 29 years of age, and married, said Mr Warrington. A child of the marriage six . months agodied under rather tragic circumstances. -:He was an excellent manual worker at jobs which did not require initiative. At the age of 14 he had suffered a fractured skull in a cycle accident, and since then had suffered from delusions, was moody and irritable, and had spent seven years in a mental hospital. - He had been discharged on probation from this hospital, and finally,discharged. / • Mr Warrington' submitted that ac- • cused had used no indecent talk, nor had any physical harm come to the girl. His mother and wife were very concerned over the matter. / INDECENT ACTThree years’ probation was imposed on a young man for a grossly indecent act, which he admitted. The case, which was qpened earlier in the week, had been adjourned to allow, of. ,the preparation of reports by .the probation officer and medical practitioners. t The offence consisted of standing naked in the lupines near the junction of-,the Tahuna and Lawyer’s Head roads, i Conditions of the admission to probation were that the accused’submitted himself to medical examination and the treatment prescribed from time to time, as required 'bv the probation officer. The accused was represented by Mr C. H Stevens.