South Yorkshire Times, July 7, 1956

Note : The name of the accused has been changed

Denaby Man For Trial
Alleged Serious Offences Against Mexborough Girl

A 15-year-old schoolgirl who ran away from Mexborough to London with a 23-year-old labourer “got involved in some of the nightlife in the West End,” said M. D. Shaffner, prosecuting the Doncaster West Riding Court yesterday.

“She was rescued from the brink of disaster. One cannot resist the interference that she was about to be set up in an establishment by gentleman not from this country” he added.

Dressed in a short jacket, blue sweater and skirt, the girl, an attractive brunette, who appeared as being in need of care and protection, was remanded for a fortnight.

The Labourer, Joseph Walter Palmer, at Doncaster Road, Denaby was committed for trial to Leeds assizes charged with serious offences against a girl. He said he intended to be guilty to the second but not the first charge. The girl told the magistrates that she met Palmer in April this year when she was living with her grandmother at Mexborough and one evening he took her to a public house where she had three gin and oranges. As it was when she was afraid to go home she went with Palmer to his parent’s house where the first serious offences occurred. About 5 am the next day they hitch hiked to London and walked the streets until they were picked up in a car by a man called “Gogo the Greek” who took them to a cafe in the West End owned by a Greek couple.

She said she slept with Palmer at the cafe and Palmer worked for “Gogo” while she worked in the cafe.

Later, she said “Gogo” got her a job in a nightclub in the West End owned by a third Greek and his wife where she was learning to serve drinks, and look after the till.

One night a man came to the club, and she went with him to a nightclub he owned, but after about four hours “Gogo” came and took her back to the cafe.

For one day she worked in “Gogo’s” tailoring factory and slept with Palmer at the cafe, but when a Greek boy called at the cafe one day and said he would find her a room, Palmer returned to Yorkshire.

Previously, she said, an Indian said he had a room for her further up the street but although she looked at it she did not say. She said she went with the Greek boy but did not sleep anywhere that night and the next day they went to his friend’s house, but a policewoman came and took them away.

Detective officer Alan Tait said he interviewed Palmer at Mexborough and as a result of a statement he made the girl was traced.

Mr Shaffner read out this statement in which Palmer said: “I do intend if I possibly can, to marry her when she is older”.