SEVEN YEARS IN GAOL.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 18024, 20 May 1930, Page 7

SEVEN YEARS IN GAOL.

REGAN SENTENCED

ATTACK ON A YOUNG GIRL. THE WARD STREET CRIME. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Tuesday. Claude James Regan, exjockey, was sentenced by Mr Justice Smith to seven years’ hard labour for rape on a girl aged 15, at Hamilton. GRAVE AND SAD. INADEQUATE HOME SUPERVISION. JUDGE’S STRONG COMMENT. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Tuesday. “I desire to say that it is. a grave, as well as a sad circumstance, that a girl of 15 years should be allowed by her parents or guardians to go, unescorted to a public dance,” said His Honour, Mr Justice Smith, when sentencing a young man to seven years’ hard labour for rape at Hamilton. “This case illustrates the peril of such conduct in a. tragic way. It shows the need of adequate home training and supervision. Tf that had been available for this girl it is a reasonable inference that she would never have been in the company of a person previously unknown to her beside a vacant piece of land at midnight. This case also raised in a tragic manner the question as to whether the proprietor of every dance hall and organisers of every public dance should not voluntarily see that obnoxious Juveniles are turned away from public dances unless escorted. Much public anxiety would be allayed if this were done, and also if the proprietor of every dance hall and organisers of every public' dance would take voluntary but rigorous steps to eject any person under the influence of liquor.”