Teenage gang rape case

[Ian H]

Srsly? You think teenage rape victims don't get any support?

The thing that I noticed was fear of encountering their attackers in the street. I imagine that would be difficult to deal with and might seriously impact the victim's freedom of movement. How should that be resolved?

 

[matticus]

The key word is in bold. Of course they do.
Srsly?

So why post this:

The perpetrators get support to improve their lives while the victims are left to get on with it, and just cope.

Are we having a serious discussion about this or not?

 

[Pblakeney]

So why post this:

Are we having a serious discussion about this or not?

Probably not as I will freely admit to not being a know it all.
This is too serious a subject for casual chat on a cycling forum, and that is all this is.

 

[C R]

The thing that I noticed was fear of encountering their attackers in the street. I imagine that would be difficult to deal with and might seriously impact the victim's freedom of movement. How should that be resolved?

That is a difficult point, which I presume is the case with many criminal offences.

 

[AuroraSaab]

It's possible to have an exclusion order for adult sex offenders to prohibit them living near victims (or eg schools). I presume these are either not available for minor offenders or the judge chose not to impose one.

 

[matticus]

It's possible to have an exclusion order for adult sex offenders to prohibit them living near victims (or eg schools). I presume these are either not available for minor offenders or the judge chose not to impose one.

i think this highlights a wider problem here; it's incredibly difficult to treat children in the same way(s) you'd treat adult criminals. Perhaps not even wise.

Imagine prohibiting a child from living near any schools!

 

[Dorset Boy]

It's possible to have an exclusion order for adult sex offenders to prohibit them living near victims (or eg schools). I presume these are either not available for minor offenders or the judge chose not to impose one.

Fordingbridge is basically a large village, so either the victims or the perpetrators need to move.

 

[tarric]

The thing that I noticed was fear of encountering their attackers in the street. I imagine that would be difficult to deal with and might seriously impact the victim's freedom of movement. How should that be resolved?

With a long prison sentence for the perpetrator's of a heinous crime regardless of age.

 

[Psamathe]

Another aspect I don't appreciate in such cases is that of parental responsibility. If the children are younger than age of criminal responsibility does that mean nobody is responsible or to what degree to parents have to take responsibility?

 

[matticus]

Another aspect I don't appreciate in such cases is that of parental responsibility. If the children are younger than age of criminal responsibility does that mean nobody is responsible or to what degree to parents have to take responsibility?

Yes, i think under UK law no-one is "responsible".
There is a parallel system whereby parents may lost custody of their children if they don't look after them, but I don't think criminal offences by those children directly trigger that. But I am VERY FAR from an expert on these things, and I'm hoping my post will trigger someone to post the right answer ( https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Cunningham's_Law )

(I'm also guessing that the parents will be involved in the Rehabilitaion Order to some degree ... but probably without much to compel them into particular actions/behaviours ... )

 

[AuroraSaab]

I think the parents can be given a parental order or fined if the child doesn't meet the terms of their imposed supervision. Realistically though what's going to happen? A fine they don't/can't pay? Extending the order, which they still don't meet the terms of? Extending it again? Perhaps in the high profile circumstances they'll jail them if they breach it but it seems unlikely. 30% breach their order or reoffend within a year apparently.

 

[Bromptonaut]

The court has published the commentary of the sentencing Judge:

https://www.judiciary.uk/judgments/r-v-j-n-and-e-court-transcript-of-sentencing-hearing/

 

[icowden]

The court has published the commentary of the sentencing Judge:

Yes - in shock news it turns out that he might just have sentenced them very appropriately given the very complex circumstances and the learning difficulties involved and it wasn't just a handwringing liberal lefty trying to give light sentences as proposed by all the knee jerk columnists and politicians desperate to have their 5 minutes of fame.

It boggles me that Starmer, as a KC, does not know better than to make comment before seeing the sentencing remarks.

 

[Bromptonaut]

It boggles me that Starmer, as a KC, does not know better than to make comment before seeing the sentencing remarks.

To be strictly fair to him he's rock/hard placed. The media won't let him be.

 

[AuroraSaab]

Cognitively impaired but smart enough to make sure there were 3 of them there when each girl was raped and smart enough to film it and circulate it.

Low IQ does not in itself mean they didn't understand that the victims didn't consent. 'Bottom 1% of his peers in IQ tests' does not mean mentally sub normal and lots of kids with an IQ of around 65 are in mainstream education. The 14 year old assailant who the judge decided didn't have a condition that was relevant seems to have been let off detention because he was under peer pressure. He's assessed as 'high risk to female children'.