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The Whitstable Times and Tankerton Press, Saturday, 10 October 1953.
Selling Man Faces House Breaking Charge.
Previously cleared of offence against five-year-old girl.
A few hours after Faversham Divisional Magistrates had found Robert
Hassan, of Hogben Hill, Selling not guilty of an indecent assault
against a five-year-old girl on Wednesday, he was brought back in to
face a charge of housebreaking. Mr. R. J. Sidle prosecuting in both
cases.
Mr. Sidney Luke Hall, of the "Old Century," public house, Hogben Hill,
Selling said that on Sunday, September 6th he closed the premises at 2
p.m. He had lunch and left to visit his mother at Whitstable at 3:45
p.m.
He secured all the doors and windows with the exception of two bedroom
windows, which were slightly open, held in place by a bar fitted over a
pin.
He returned at about 5:10 p.m. and as a result of what he was told, went
to his bedroom, finding that the window was in the same position as he
had left it.
Scratches On Sill.
There were scratches on the window sill and a foot mark on the case of a
sewing machine just inside. On the garden underneath the window he found
two marks which corresponded with the base of a ladder which he normally
kept near his bedroom window.
In the bedroom that afternoon there was between £100 and £300 in a
locked wooden cabinet. There was also some of his wife's and mother's
jewellery in the room.
Defendant would have known that there was money in the room for he was a
regular customer at the house and had been there while witness had gone
upstairs for change.
Mr. William J. Revell, of Perry Woods, Selling, said he went to the
public house just before 5 p.m. to feed Mr. Hall's pigs and chickens.
On The Ladder.
He had a key to the back gate of the yard which Mr. Hall gave him. On
that evening he unlocked the gate and pushed his bicycle through. He
turned to relock the gate and noticed the ladder up to the a bedroom
window. Hassan was standing near the top undoing the latch on the
window.
Witness said he then went to a shed at the back of the house to get the
chicken food. He filled two buckets of corn and more or less
deliberately made plenty of noise. When he re-emerged he saw Hassan lay
the ladder down alongside the wall. He then walked over to the corner of
the house and witness alleged he said to him. "What were you doing up
there?"
Hassan said that he was looking for his dog and Mr. Revelll said he told
him he would not find the dog "in Luke's bedroom."
Over A Fence.
Shortly after that the accused went away over an iron fence on the side
of the gate. A Mr. Cook came into the yard after he had seen accused up
the ladder.
Later that evening Hassan was in Mr. Hall's kitchen when he went in. Mr.
Hall asked him what he saw and he answered. "I saw Bob at the bedroom
window."
Hassan later said. "He must be telling a lie." Mr. Revell imagine Hassan
was referring to him.
Police Sergeant John Hoynes, of Selling, said that at 6:15 p.m. on
September 11th he saw Hassan in his home, from which he had been missing
since the evening of September 6th.
He said to him. "So you have come back then?" Hassan answered, "Yes
Sergeant. Have I got to come with you?"
Under caution he said. "I got in there, but I never stole anything."
A Few Drinks.
He arrested him and took him to Faversham Police Station where Hassan
was charged. In an alleged statement he said that he had a few drinks
and did not know what he was doing. He went up the ladder into the room
but did not steal anything.
Hassan was committed for trial at East Kent Quarter Sessions on November
16th. He was granted bail. |
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