South Yorkshire Times, May 6th 1944
Attacked By Soldier
Swinton Woman Assaulted
Alleged to have committed grievous bodily harm on two married women whom he met in a fair ground. Robert Harnett (20), a private in the Pioneer Corps, appeared at Doncaster West Riding Court on Monday. He was sent to prison for six months in all.
Gertrude Cowles (29), a married woman living at Swinton, told theCourt that she and her friend arrived in Mexborough about 10pm on Saturday, April 15th, and went into the fair ground. Later the accused joined them, introducing himself a soldier named Hall spoke to her.
Later the accused joined them, introducing, himself as a mate of Hall’s, although Hall later said he did not even know the man’s name. The soldiers asked if he could walk home with them. They assented. When they reached some rough ground near Mexborough station, said Mrs. Cowles, Harnett suddenly turned and threw her to the ground. “He tried to pull my dress off” she said. He hit her in the face, knocking out two of her front teeth and cutting her face. She screamed and her friend, who had been walking behind her with Hall, rushed up and tried to pull Harnett off her. Then he struck her friend and Mrs. Cowles told the court that she ran to get help. She met a civilian and a girl. They refused assistance. She ran after Hall, who walked off in the direction of the fair ground. He consented to walk back to the scene of the attack with her. On the way there they found Mrs. Riley, her friend, who was in a distressed condition. All three went to the drill hall at Mexboro’ and reported the affair, and later went to the police station.
At an identification parade of about 200 men on the following Monday, Mrs. Cowley identified Harnett as the man who had attacked her.
Mrs. E. M. Riley, of Grange Farm, Alverly, near Doncaster, corroborated her friend’s evidence but she failed to identify anyone on the parades. Hall said that he did nothing because he did not want to give Harnett away.
Inspector Waugh, of the West Riding Police, said that when cautioned and charged with the office, defendant said “I’m saying nothing.”
Harnett was sentenced to four months imprisonment for inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mrs. Cowles, and two months for committing assault on Mrs. Riley. The sentences to run consecutively.