Corpun file 20899

Daily Express, London, 31 July 1963

One Tory gives another 'six of the best'

Express Staff Reporter

THE Tory party agent told the 18-year-old treasurer of the Young Conservatives to remove his trousers and lean over a chair, then he gave him "six of the best" with a fly swat.

Afterwards the agent, 58-year-old John Mallett, handed the youth a receipt for the beating.

Yesterday Mallett pleaded guilty to assault at Wokingham, Berkshire.

Mr. John Griffiths, prosecuting, said the youth, David Gillman, had gone to the association offices one evening to discuss a progress report on a public speaking course he was taking.

The report from the Tory Central Office was not a good one. It said Gillman was "self opinionated and tended to be facetious."

Mallett gave the youth a choice of either writing a 400-word essay or giving a 10-minute talk on corporal punishment.

Gillman chose the talk and made a speech in which he said punishment brought humility.

Then, Mr. Griffiths said, Mallett asked the youth if he knew any reason why he should not be beaten.

Gillman said no, and Mallett told him to remove his trousers and beat him.

Click to enlarge

Later Mallett handed Gillman the receipt: "Received from J. Mallett a beating consisting of six strokes."

Mr. Griffiths added: "The trousers were removed without question because Mr. Gillman thought it was a test of character.

"He thought the receipt was necessary for Mallett's confidential files."

Mr. Harold Mayne Reid, defending, said there was no evidence of sexual perversion. Mallett was "deeply ashamed" and wished to make a public apology.

Handshake

The magistrates gave Mallett, of Albert-road, Wokingham, a conditional discharge.

The chairman. Mr. Leonard Hackett, said: "I have been on this Bench for over a quarter of a century and I have never heard a more extraordinary story.

Outside the court Mallett and Gillman shook hands.

Said Mallett: "It was all most unfortunate."

Said Gillman: "There are no hard feelings.

"I won my way into the Central Office speaking course by coming second in a local speaking contest.

"I spoke in favour of joining the Common Market."

Corpun file 21599

The Daily Telegraph (early editions), London, 31 July 1963

Party agent hit youth

Six strokes with fly-swat forgiven

Daily Telegraph Reporter

Click to enlarge

LOCAL Conservative officials ran to greet JOHN MALLET, 58, Conservative agent, at Wokingham, Berks, with smiles and handshakes outside Wokingham Magistrates Court yesterday where they had heard how he beat DAVID GILLMAN, 18, with a fly-swat.

Gillman, treasurer of Wokingham Young Conservatives, was one of the first to congratulate Mallet, who had been granted a conditional discharge. He had admitted assaulting Gillman. All is forgiven and we are the best of friends again," said Gillman.

Air Cdre. Robert Speight, chairman of the local Conservative Association, smiled and said: "I personally don't think Mr. Mallet will lose his job. He is a fine fellow."

Speaking award

Mr. JOHN GRIFFITHS, prosecuting, had said Gillman won a scholarship for public speaking and took a course in London. Mallet invited him to the Association offices one evening to discuss a report he had received about his prowess during the course. It was not a good report.

Mallet gave Gillman a choice of punishment: writing an essay or delivering a speech on corporal punishment.

After the speech Mallet said: "Do you know any reason why I should not beat you?" Gillman said "No" and was told to remove his trousers and underwear and lean over a chair.

"He did this without question because he thought it was a test of character," said Mr. Griffiths. The youth was given six strokes across the buttocks with a fly-swat.

Mr. GRIFFITHS said the remainder of the evening passed away "somewhat strangely" with Mallet inviting the boy out for a drink. Mallet seemed to be "incoherent and uncertain."

"No perversion"

Mr. HAROLD MAYNE REID, defending, said there was no evidence of sexual perversion. "There had been a discussion on corporal punishment and perhaps some emotional excitement could have come about," he added.

Outside the court, Air Cdre. Speight said: "A committee is to decide Mr. Mallet's future at Wokingham."

Mallet, a married man, of Albert Road, Wokingham, said: "The boy's parents live in Canada and I thought I should administer some form of punishment as a father would do."