Only in Hamilton
March 8th, 2013 at 9:00 am by David FarrarAaron Leaman at Stuff reports:
An intoxicated Hamilton clubgoer has been prosecuted for taking the law into her own hands – literally – during a routine bar check.
Galloway, 36, was drinking at Hamilton’s Shenanigans Irish Pub about midnight on May 18 last year when a constable entered the bar to carry out a liquor licence check.
In what her lawyer termed “a grossly stupid act”, Galloway groped the officer’s groin as he made his way through the bar.
Galloway was ejected from the bar, prompting her to yell abuse and suggest the officer was enjoying the attention.
In explanation, Galloway later said she did not realise her victim was a police officer and she had “been doing this to men all night“.
If you ran this story without mentioning the city, I reckon most people would guess it was Hamilton 
The charge carries a maximum sentence of two years’ jail. Judge Connell declined to impose a fine, instead opting for a sentence of community work.
Incidentally if the genders were reversed I suspect the patron would be in considerably more trouble.
Tags: Hamilton
March 8th, 2013 at 9:07 am
If the genders were reversed I suspect the patron would be in considerably more trouble.
What ,don’t we have “equality” here in oh so progressive,ahead of the world in all matters pertaining to womens’ rights?
Vote:March 8th, 2013 at 9:15 am
Because Auckland is entirely devoid of idiocy and all of the drunks are restrained and polite.
Vote:March 8th, 2013 at 9:19 am
I use to work with woman who would frequently go out, get hammered, and yell out to various males “show us your cock!” And then feign disgust when the occasional male would.
Seriously, no pleasing some people. And she definitely wasn’t from Hamilton.
Vote:March 8th, 2013 at 9:24 am
Jeepers. P.G. will be horrified at the news!
Vote:March 8th, 2013 at 9:31 am
Hamilton- where there was a zombie parade and nobody noticed that anyone was oddly dressed, brain dead and hideously disfigured
Vote:March 8th, 2013 at 9:42 am
If the genders were reversed, I doubt this would be a jokey-story.
Vote:March 8th, 2013 at 9:43 am
This woman should have been charged as a man. I’m waiting for the loud feminist outrage at a woman being treated differently by the courts.
Vote:March 8th, 2013 at 9:59 am
“….If the genders were reversed I suspect the patron would be in considerably more trouble….”
The Ministry of Womens’ Batteries is so divorced from reality that if they were asked about this matter they would simply issue another PR release to the media: Blame Statement #36,789.
Vote:March 8th, 2013 at 10:02 am
On a wider front it appears that being pissed out of your brain is an acceptable excuse for a wide variety of offences and will get you a proverbial wet bus ticket smacking yet have more than a couple and drive and the full force of the law will come down on you like a ton of bricks.
Inconsistent or not?
Vote:March 8th, 2013 at 10:05 am
If the genders were reversed – male patron groped female cop – the patron would be in jail.
Vote:March 8th, 2013 at 10:06 am
I love the english language…
“Taking the law into her own hands”. LOL.
She could then have been “ejaculated” from the bar. LOL again.
And once the mirth died down, she should have been sentenced as if the genders were reversed. No LOL there. Her sentence sucks.
Vote:March 8th, 2013 at 10:15 am
Sex & The City – Hamiltron style
Starring a bunch of aging, average-looking sluts trying to find validation (and AIDS) anywhere they can.
Vote:March 8th, 2013 at 10:59 am
I highly doubt that. Stealing a dead baby’s identity is a lot worse, and that doesn’t attract a jail sentance.
March 8th, 2013 at 11:02 am
A younger girl would have walked away scott free
Vote:March 8th, 2013 at 11:08 am
Gary, you’re a winner… but dont give up your day job….actually identity theft is a very serious business…if one uses the false identity for any nefarious person, off the jail…You join the dots Gary…
For the adults reading, this is actually really serious…indecent assault is a strike offence…if the genders were reversed, the male offender would almost certainly have a strike…it is not clear whether this stilly bitch does…
Vote:March 8th, 2013 at 11:14 am
Time to let the Day of the Jackall thing go.
The man made a mistake – didn’t think things through – was dealt with by the criminal justice system, expressed contrition, and (relatively) promptly resigned from Parliament. We weren’t there, we don’t know all the facts, we don’t know what is in the man’s heart.
Time to let it go. Attack his opinions (often a happy hunting ground) not his past.
Vote:March 8th, 2013 at 11:41 am
“….Time to let the Day of the Jackall thing go….”
I agree.
Abuse of the Catholic Church for their many past mistakes should be let go of too.
Vote:March 8th, 2013 at 11:53 am
Shenanigans at Shenanigans.
Vote:March 8th, 2013 at 11:54 am
BTW, does anyone from Hamilton read this blog?
I’m not quite sure why, but the notion seems somewhat surreal.
Vote:March 8th, 2013 at 11:57 am
Anyone heard from Pete George ?
He has gone very quiet suddenly.
Not so interested in sexual assaults anymore !
Vote:March 8th, 2013 at 11:58 am
Same for other denominations and other religions?
Vote:March 8th, 2013 at 12:01 pm
Speak of the Devil … and he shall appear.
Vote:March 8th, 2013 at 12:05 pm
I can explain the actions of Galloway. She is part of our “rape culture” LOL
Vote:March 8th, 2013 at 12:07 pm
Kea – also, DPF is an enabler of the “rape culture” because he used a smiley face emoticon in his post.
Vote:March 8th, 2013 at 12:09 pm
I have been subjected to numerous demands for sex and sexual assaults when out drinking. I would report it, but I would feel like I would be made to feel like a wimp and not be taken seriously. I feel like I would be victimised further and made to feel ashamed and guilty, like I was asking for it or something. I don’t feel safe anymore in our “rape culture”
People like Pete George mock me and are part of the problem. They make a joke of these assaults.
Vote:March 8th, 2013 at 12:47 pm
“Truly Your honour I didn’t know he was a policeman, so I checked to see if he was carrying a truncheon”
For God’s sake Kea grow up and join the rest of the world. I actually wonder if in fact you have an enormous guilt complex rather than one of a perceived victim.
Vote:March 8th, 2013 at 12:49 pm
cubit is part of the “rape culture”
Vote:March 8th, 2013 at 2:03 pm
I have since had another look at this…and it really is VERY concerning. It would appear from the news report that the woman in question was charged simply with common assault, despite the circumstances suggesting it was clearly a case of indecent assault – a much more serious offence, punishable by seven years in prison, and a “strike” offence.
Who can doubt that if the genders were reversed, the charge would have been indecent assault, and the offender would now have a first strike? Ironically this kind of situation was raised by Graeme E in his objections to “three Strikes”; Graeme pointed out that indecent assault could sometimes be no more than “a drunken grope” – as this one was. I fully realise that in highlighting this, I am supporting those opposed to the legislation I promoted.
One of two things could and should have happened here: the incident could have been resolved with a warning, and a stern lecture on the consequences of doing it again; alternatively, if a charge was preferred, it should have been indecent assault rather than common assault, just as it would have been if the offender was male. The fact that a much less serious charge was laid is clearly because of gender discrimination.
Vote:March 8th, 2013 at 2:12 pm
And that is one of the many reasons why your law sucks balls David.
Vote:Also, on three strikes – nobody who is drunk like that is going to stop and think “fuck, I’m on my third strike, I better not grope this lady cop.” After they’ve done it though, they might think “oh fuck, the cop is after me and I’m on my third strike” at which point the knives come out and the cop ends up in hospital.
No three strikes rule means that the offender is more likely to go quietly.
March 8th, 2013 at 2:14 pm
They can’t read Peter.
Vote:March 8th, 2013 at 2:48 pm
If the lass from Hamilton had done that, I wonder what the charge would have been?
Vote:March 8th, 2013 at 3:03 pm
As it happens, one of the 15 second strikers was convicted of indecent assault…twice. He earned his second strike for indecent assault – wait for it – while on bail awaiting sentence for his first strike offence, also an indecent assault. If he comes out and commits another strike offence he will be in the can for at least seven years with no parole (assuming it was another indecent assault) or a damn sight longer if he “graduates” up the scale. I see him as an excellent example of the law working just as it was intended – if you are so stupid or have so little control that you do THE SAME THING a second time, while still awaiting sentence for your first offence, you belong in jail.
the difference of course is that because of 3S, that particular guy’s criminal history to age 50 will be three or four offences, not 100, as was often the case prior to 3S. He will be in jail rather than on the street.
Vote:March 8th, 2013 at 3:33 pm
Do you seriously think that somebody spending their life in jail is a positive outcome?
Vote:March 8th, 2013 at 3:45 pm
FFS, if they convicted every man that had done the same thing to a female, there would hardly be a man left without a criminal conviction. Even at my age I’ve had my butt pinched – (yes, the guy was blind drunk).
At some stage there has to be a ‘line crossed’, with a real intent. They couldn’t charge her with indecent assault because she would have easily been able to prove there was no intent to engage in sexual behaviour. The very large majority of cops I know would have warned her, and sent her home (at the most). Most would have laughed it off.
This is NOT sexual offending, it is ‘drunk and disorderly’ and maybe common assault.
Sure, such things shouldn’t happen, they aren’t a demonstration of manners etc. But there are serious sexual offenders out there that need Police and Court time – this young ‘lady’ was not one of them.
If you are going to hang out in bars, with drunken females, especially in Hamilton – this could happen to you. I bet that particular bar is now doing a roaring trade, I doubt there are males throughout the Waikato scared to enter the place, for fear of being ‘touched’.
For gods sake, we females have had to cope with it for centuries, you guys really need to ‘grow some’.
Vote:March 8th, 2013 at 4:13 pm
I sort of agree Judith. But I think some are reacting to the perceived unfairness, that if they wrote the exact same thing you’ve written but the other way round, and suggested that women in bars should expect to get felt up some times, and it’s just part of being in bars, that they’d be shouted down. And actually, I agree that women shouldn’t expect to get felt up sometimes in bars (other than if they wanted to be felt up, in which case they should send me their phone number so we can arrange to be in the same bar). It’s not reasonable. A different matter is to point out that it does actually sometimes happens, and it isn’t the end of the world. Which is I think what you’re saying.
Vote:March 8th, 2013 at 4:43 pm
PaulL
Yes that is exactly what I’m saying. Whilst everyone’s body is their own temple blah blah blah, when you go out drinking and mix in that culture, such things are going to happen. Now, the cop was no doubt sober (we hope) and it probably came as a surprise to him, but I can’t help feeling that is was just a convenient arrest for them, and most probably whilst dealing with the female concerned, there were probably people leaving the bar, intoxicated and getting in to vehicles to drive home etc. (Behaviour that could actually endanger lives).
No doubt you will not read this, as your phone is probably ringing with answers to your ever so kind offer above. So nice of you to offer your services. We hope to see your name in the Queen’s Birthday Honours, for services to the community!
Vote:March 8th, 2013 at 5:40 pm
Heh. So far no phone rings. My guess is that the police officer concerned identified that the lady was very drunk. He suggested that she leave more for that reason than because he was upset that she felt him up. As part of leaving she was rather abusive to him. So he booked her. Been there when I was much younger. Turns out when you are polite to police officers they cut you some slack. When you’re drunk and abuse them, you end up booked.
On the wider question – yes. People in bars, particularly late at night and drunk, have things happen that wouldn’t be OK in daylight walking down the street. That doesn’t make it right or OK, but it does happen. And the bump and grind of a bar is a bit different than someone committing a more serious assault.
Vote:March 8th, 2013 at 5:47 pm
It’s fine to joke about a male being groped by a female – we assume the female is cute and the male doesn’t mind.
In reality, I was once bailed up by an older, grossly unattractive female twice my weight and sexually assaulted. Decades later I still shudder at the memory.
It’s indecent assault if its unwelcome and done without warning.
Vote:March 8th, 2013 at 5:54 pm
There is way to much theory being talked about here.
We need to conduct an experiment. Its Friday night. I suggest a few of you go to a local bar and wait for a police woman to do the rounds. Grope her groin and shout out that “the officer was enjoying the attention.” also point out that ” ” you had “been doing this to women all night“.
See what happens next. You will also get to test the idea that NZ police do not hand out beatings.
Good luck boys !
Vote:March 8th, 2013 at 7:49 pm
Where is Hamilton?
Oh yeah I grew up there and went to school there I think
Vote:Must have happened during one of my blackouts