Comments By Judge When Sentencing Man For indecent Assault

Wanganui Chronicle, 16 February 1949, Page 6

Comments By Judge When Sentencing Man For indecent Assault

“I am afraid you are rather a disreputable person and 1 cannot treat this matter lightly, but 1 will have regard for the time you have already spent in gaol,” said Mr. Justice Gres.son in the Supreme Court, Wanganui, yesterday, when sentencing Harold Hamilton, .gardener, aged 41, to reformative detention for nine months. Prisoner, for whom Mr. W. M. Willis appeared, had been convicted by a jury the previous day on a charge of indecent assault on a male. Mr. Willis submitted that he was fully aware that all offences of this nature were serious, but the present was not a serious one of its class. It was one isolated case where the evidence showed that prisoner had ample opportunity of committing other offences had he been so minded, but had made no attempt to do so. Counsel added that he was aware that prisoner had a criminal record dating back to 1931, but with one exception the convictions were for othei offences. The exception was an indecent act in 1935 with intent to commit assault, but counsel said he was not aware of the circumstances. Prisoner had been ,in custody since his arrest 14 weeks ago. He was allowed bail, but was unable to find the | sureties. In view of the nature ol the offence and the term already spent in gaol, counsel asked the Court to take a lenient view. Prisoner had been found guilty on a charge of indecent assault on a box aged 14 years, said His Honour. It had been said that so far as the offence was concerned it was not of a serious character, but prisoner had gone to some pains to inveigle this boy into going to the pictures with him. Prisoner appeared to have a desire to take an unhealthy interest in boys. “That you have not committed offences of this type against other boys is of rather a negative value,” His Honour added. “I am afraid you are rather a disreputable person and 1 cannot treat the matter lightly.” The Crown Prosecutor, Mr. N. R. Bain, appeared for the Crown.