“UNGRATEFUL SCOUNDREL”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 May 1938, Page 9

“UNGRATEFUL SCOUNDREL”

ASAULT ON A WOMAN MAN SENT TO PRISON (By Telegraph—Press Association.) ROTORUA, May 14. “This is a very deplorable offence and you are a very ungrateful scoundrel. You were walking along the road out of work, tired and hungry, and this kind young woman comes along and gives you a ride for 100 miles, and then you endeavour to interfere with her. Is that the only gratitude you can show?” said the Bench, Messrs W. L. Richards and O. H. Coleman, Justices of the Peace, when sentencing John Robinson, alias Desmond Halliday, aged 19, labourer, of no fixed abode, when he appeared in the Magistrates’ Court, Rotorua, this morning charged with assault on a married woman, of Whakatane, and attempting to steal £4 7s 6d in money, the property of complainant. Accused pleaded guilty to the charge of theft and not guilty on the assault count. He was represented by Mr J. F. Keane. Senior-Sergeant E. J. Carroll, outlining the facts of the case, said that, Mrs Coburn was motoring from Taihape to Rotorua, and at National Park saw accused on the roadside. She offered him a lift, and after proceeding 100 miles and when about a mile on the Taupo side of the Waiotapu Hotel, accused, without warning, suddenly turned off the ignition and took the keys. In evidence, Mrs Coburn described efforts made by accused indecently to assault her, stating that he threatened first to strangle her and then to shoot her unless she consented to do what he asked. Realising the danger she was in, witness played for time by attempting to bribe accused with money, but without avail. Just as he dragged her from the car another car appeared round the corner and accused made off into the scrub with the ignition keys. He later appeared and said, “You win." The motorist took accused to the Waiotapu Hotel. The police were informed and accused was arrested and taken to Rotorua. After hearing the motorist’s evidence the Bench amended the charge to aggravated assault and sentenced accused to three months' imprisonment. He was convicted and discharged on the charge of theft.