NIGHT ASSAULTS

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 22660, 13 July 1945, Page 2

NIGHT ASSAULTS

REFORMATIVE DETENTION REMARKS BY MAGISTRATE Having admitted 11 charges of assault, one of committing mischief and one of theft, Leonard Longman, aged 26, railway fireman, of Frankton, was sentenced by Mr S. L. Paterson, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court, Hamilton, yesterday afternoon to detention for reformative purposes for a period not exceeding one year. Longman appeared before the magistrate a fortnight ago and was remanded in order to undergo examination of psychiatrists. Recalling the night assaults which led to Longman’s arrest, Mr Paterson said they had caused a great deal of worry and distress among the women of Hamilton and he did not think he was exaggerating in saying that they were terrorised.

“Your case has given me a great deal of concern,” said Mr Paterson, addressing Longman. “The circumstances of the case are undoubtedly unusual. I have had you examined by two psychiatrists because I felt there might be some mental explanation of your offences. The psychiatrists both say you understood what you were doing and that what you were doing was wrong. Any form of mental disturbance can be a defence only if the defendant does not realise that what he was doing was wrong. Form of Perversion “However, there is no doubt that what you did was a form of, for want of a better word, perversion,” continued the magistrate. In some way the impulses must be restrained. He would have been lacking in his duty if he did not put Longman under some form of restraint. A certain amount of care was required but unfortunately there was not a suitable institution in the country. He would gladly commit Longman to such an institution if it existed. “The matter is too serious to be taken as a common assault,” said Mr Paterson. “I must take it as an aggravated assault. This enables me to give you reformative detention. Otherwise I could impose two cumulative terms of imprisonment. The best course is to order you to be detained for reformative purpose.” The magistrate added that he would forward to the Prisons Board a special report on the case, together with the reports of the psychiatrists and counsel, Mr W. J. King, and a long letter regarding his history from his former commanding officer in Egypt.

The magistrate said a recommendation would be made that accused should be released on probation as soon as the prison doctors considered such a course advisable.