South Yorkshire July 1st 1944
A.T.S. Girl Attacked
Hard Labour for Goldthorpe Assailant
Kenneth Rolfe (18), haulage hand of 13, Hope Avenue, Goldthorpe, was at the West Riding Quarter Sessions at Leeds on Tuesday found guilty of assault with intent to rape and with indecent assault against a married woman, a member of the A.T.S., at Hickleton on May 10th, and was sentenced to 18 months hard labour.
For the prosecution it was stated that about 11pm on Wednesday, May 10th, complainant was cycling along the Doncaster-Barnsley Road at Hickleton when she was overtaken by a youth riding a cycle. He engaged her in conversation. As they were riding side by side complainant suddenly received a blow on the head. The youth then pushed her off the machine and forced her over a low fence into an adjoining field. She screamed and tried to get to her feet, but the youth knocked her down again. He put one hand over her mouth and indecently assaulted her. He threatened to remove some of her clothing, saying “and then they will know you have been out with someone.” The struggle went on for some time and ended when the youth heard a noise from the road. Immediate complaint was made as a result of which Rolfe was seen at his home by P.c. Palmer and Sergt. Gruber the next day. Rolfe denied the offence, but said he was on tha road at 11 o’clock the previous night and saw two A.T.S. girls walking towards Hickleton, but did not see one on a bike. He said he left Doncaster at 10.30 and arrived home at 12 o’clock.
At an identification parade, Rolfe was identified by complainant as her assailant. When cautioned and charged by P.c. Palmer, accused replied “I have nothing to say. I did not do it.”
The case for the defence was that Rolfe arrived home before midnight and that there was an error in the statement to the police due to the fact that Rolfe’s father had put on the kitchen clock half an hour owing to it being defective Accused, in evidence denied the offence. Evidence was given by the complainant and two other members of the A.T.S., Mrs. Lily Mann, 3, Hope Avenue, Goldthorpe, who spoke to lending accused a cycle on the night in question. Captain O.C. Sandys, R.A.M.C., Inspector H. Waugh and P.c. Palmer. Harry Edwin Rolfe, miner, father of the accused, gave evidence for the defence.