A WOMAN ACCOSTED

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVIII, Issue 147, 25 June 1914, Page 6

A WOMAN ACCOSTED

TWELVE MONTHS FOR OFFENDER.

For some time past there have been' numerous complaints to the effect that young girls and women have been accosted in the streets or Christ-church (says the Sun). On more than one occasion when not actually molested women have been annoyed by men who have insisted on speaking to and following them. This sort of person is particularly hard to catch for the reason that he makes no disturbance- as a rule, and can so easily fado away into the crowd. One day last week a married woman was walking along a' city street when a man accosted -her and used indecent and stiggestive remarks to her. She informed her husband, and the matter was pnfc.ni the hands of the police, with the result that John Garrett, arrested yesterday by Detective Regan, came before Mr T. A. B. Bailey, S.M., at the Court next morning, charged Aviith the offence. Garrett, a wisp of a man scarcely able to look over the edge of the dock, pleaded guilty. Chief-Detective Bishop said that this was by fir the -worst case of its kind in his experience. The lady accosted was highly respected, ar.d the incident had upset her considerably, lit was at about 4 o'clock in the ■ after noon when the accused committed the offence. He was not a native of New Zealand, but he had been in the Dominion for about five years. He had been in gaol in Wellington for indecency, and had'serv. d a sentence of twelve months' imprisonment. The Chief-Dotective asked thait the sentence inflicted should be as heavy «s possible, so that this case might serve as -a warning to others. There was a. great deal of this sort of thing going on, but peopl© wore reluctant to report the offences for fear that they might have to come up before the Court to give -evidence. This lady and her husbnnd, however, had considered it their duty to inform the police. There Avas possibly another charge ponding, but on the present one the ChiefDoteotivo asked for the maximum penalty. A sentence of twelvo months' imprisonment . was imposed.