JOCKEY’S SERIOUS OFFENCE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 140, 13 May 1930, Page 3

JOCKEY’S SERIOUS OFFENCE.

REMANDED FOR OBSERVATION. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, May 12. When a young Hamilton jockey, Janies Claude Regan, appeared in the Supremo Court this morning for sentence on a serious charge committed against a young girl, his counsel, Mr Schramm, entered a strong plea that .accused was more mental than criminal. After hearing evidence relative to accused’s habits given by his mother, who was in tears, Mr Justice Smith deferred sentence in order that Regan might be kept under observation at a mental hospital. Mr Schramm said that Regan irad pleaded guilty to the offence. Some three years ago he had met with an accident in a steeplechase event at Whangarei, and he had not been normal since then. He did not aj>pear to appreciate that he had committed a serious offence* Regan, who was only 21 years of age, had had a further accident at Auckland, and as a result he had suffered from fainting fits and lapses of memory. He was more mental than criminal, counsel submitted, although he did not come within the definition of mentally deficient. Owing to his disability accused had not been .able to get a permit to ride in races, but was allowed to work in racing stables. He had met a fifteen-year-old girl at a dance and committed the offence. He had been drinking, and that was what had really caused the trouble. “The offence appeared to be a brutal assault,” said Mr Hubble, who appeared for the Crown. Nora Jane Regan, mother of prisoner, almost fainted when she entered tlio witness box. She said that since his accident her son’s mind wandered and he said funny things. He had fainted in a street eight months ago and had been taken to hospital. He was,,a good son, but she did not think he was normal. In remanding prisoner for a week for mental observation, His Honour said in view of the plea put forward by counsel, Regan’s youth, and the seriousness of tho charge, he desired to have the fullest information about the prisoner.