Page 13 | 4 yrs for cutting down tree, no jail time for rape

Barnbrack · 2025-07-15T18:45:27+00:00

Why are 2 men being given custodial sentences for cutting down a tree when men convicted of rape regularly get suspended sentences. Is an important tree more important than a random woman! Justice system seems to think so.

CorbyTrouserPress · 15/07/2025 22:27

TheCrenchinglyMcQuaffenBrothers · 15/07/2025 22:19

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Again, not a suspended sentence.

Original poster

Barnbrack · 15/07/2025 22:27

scalt · 15/07/2025 22:23

People who lie about who was driving a speeding car can be jailed, but no jail time for the massive liars Boris Johnson and Tony Blair.

Yep! People taken to court for breaking COVID restrictions,... Yet Boris was having after work parties and Dominic Cummins was away using relatives for childcare because he was poorly. There's disparity everywhere I don't dispute that!

It's just I recently had read a few articles regarding sexual crimes that seemed to carry negligible sentences and then saw this and thought, wow, women are less than trees now. Fun.

OP posts:

CorbyTrouserPress · 15/07/2025 22:26

TheCrenchinglyMcQuaffenBrothers · 15/07/2025 22:16

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He was not given a suspended sentence. He was given an absolute discharge due to having dementia. There is a difference.

Look, I get you’re trailing the net looking for a solitary example to try and prove me wrong, although you are still yet to find one, I just don’t understand why you’re doing it. It won’t change the fact that sentencing guidelines in England start at 4 years for rape and suspended sentences are not given to convicted rapists.

scalt · 15/07/2025 22:23

People who lie about who was driving a speeding car can be jailed, but no jail time for the massive liars Boris Johnson and Tony Blair.

Original poster

Barnbrack · 15/07/2025 22:22

YouWillFindMeInTheGarden · 15/07/2025 22:19

Well I was referring to U.K.

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You don't hink Scotland is in the UK?

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RantzNotBantz · 15/07/2025 22:22

Of course rape should be better prosecuted and dealt with rigorously and judged harshly.

Which is no argument for leniency for vandalism against trees and historical features such as Hadrian’s Wall

Original poster

Barnbrack · 15/07/2025 22:21

Thingyfanding · 15/07/2025 22:17

You are absolutely desperate for an argument. Put the wine down and go to bed.

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God I wish I had wine. Instead it's a work night, the kids have just gone to bed and I'm having 10 minutes before I clean and go to bed myself. I just can't quite equate the way people see this.

Yes it's very sad they cut down a tree that matters to people.

It just doesn't make sense within the landscape of sentencing for violent crimes particularly against women

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GreenCandleWax · 15/07/2025 22:21

ObelixtheGaul · 15/07/2025 19:58

YANBU. I was watching a truly awful episode of 24 hours in police custody last week. This man had thousands of images and videos of girls in their late teens/early twenties, video footage of him raping girls obviously not fully conscious. Victims had no idea what he did to them.

10 years he got because he pleaded guilty to one count of rape, one count of voyeurism and one count of public exposure. 10 years for a vile individual who groomed young women, got them to his flat, got them so drunk/drugged they couldn't consent. Footage included him dragging a young woman, unconscious, across a concrete floor. She was naked.

When someone gets 4 years for chopping down a tree, 10 years for all that individual did is doubly insulting, as if it wasn't insulting enough.

And he will be out before 5 years is up - why we have half sentences mystifies me.
Our society does not value women's right not to be attacked, and jail sentences reflect the general sexism we live under.

Original poster

Barnbrack · 15/07/2025 22:19

Tiswa · 15/07/2025 22:09

The problem isn’t sentencing - the sentence here seems perfectly fine for the crime and the average sentence for rape is between 4 to 19 years

the issue in the justice system is the fact very few cases make prosecution and even fewer make sentencing - that is the issue

Rape – Sentencing Academy https://share.google/Pmzn0pSNRDPasusbY

It's interesting to me that this gives the 'average custodial sentences for rape' as being between 4 and 19 years (crazy range first of all, what statistical analysis is generating this bizarre number) because that may highlight a reason for shorter sentences being non custodial as they then don't affect that statistics meaning it's artificially high (while already being doctored to buggery, it's like saying the average piece of string between 1cm and 14 metres... )

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YouWillFindMeInTheGarden · 15/07/2025 22:19

Americano75 · 15/07/2025 22:18

I've worked in Scottish prisons.

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Well I was referring to U.K.

TheCrenchinglyMcQuaffenBrothers · 15/07/2025 22:19

CorbyTrouserPress · 15/07/2025 21:58

Scottish law is different to English law. I assumed we were discussing English law as the Sycamore Gap criminals were convicted in an English Court. Do you have an example of an adult convicted of rape in England getting a suspended sentence?

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4 yrs for cutting down tree, no jail time for rape

YouWillFindMeInTheGarden · 15/07/2025 22:18

I’ve no real opinion on the tree… but did it not fall onto Hadrians wall?

Americano75 · 15/07/2025 22:18

YouWillFindMeInTheGarden · 15/07/2025 21:55

How do you know that ?

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I've worked in Scottish prisons.

Thingyfanding · 15/07/2025 22:17

Barnbrack · 15/07/2025 22:13

And you think that's why this sentence was higher? Because of the oxygen abilities of this tree?

How long are the sentences for the deforestation of the Brazilian rainforest? How long is each tree surgeon getting?

How long is the sentence for everyone who removes trees overhanging their property?

Your argument is odd

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You are absolutely desperate for an argument. Put the wine down and go to bed.

TheCrenchinglyMcQuaffenBrothers · 15/07/2025 22:16

CorbyTrouserPress · 15/07/2025 21:58

Scottish law is different to English law. I assumed we were discussing English law as the Sycamore Gap criminals were convicted in an English Court. Do you have an example of an adult convicted of rape in England getting a suspended sentence?

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…..

EarthwormJem · 15/07/2025 22:16

If you give a slap on the wrist and some community service to people who destroy national landmarks for a cheap thrill, we might as well say goodbye to the rest of them (not least in the age of dickheads doing social media stunts).

I'm fine with this sentence and surprised at the "its just a tree" posts, which just seem stupidly reductive.

Original poster

Barnbrack · 15/07/2025 22:16

OonaStubbs · 15/07/2025 22:06

Comparing the sycamore gap tree to "any old tree" is ridiculous. If someone deliberately damaged a painting of dogs playing snooker in a pub, they'd get fined. If they deliberately damaged the Mona Lisa they'd get a very harsh sentence, and rightfully so.

I wonder which would receive the harsher sentence, sexual violation of the painting theona Lisa or sexual violation of a living breathing woman

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ToClimb · 15/07/2025 22:13

ExtraOnions · 15/07/2025 20:46

They have 4 years, but will be released probably half way through.

Rape is a minimum of 4 years .. in most cases longer, and these are minimum sentences, so no early releases.

People are conflating things

They will be released after a maximum 40% of their sentence. Possibly earlier on home detention curfew.

Original poster

Barnbrack · 15/07/2025 22:13

Thingyfanding · 15/07/2025 21:37

missing the point - there wouldn’t be any women without trees

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And you think that's why this sentence was higher? Because of the oxygen abilities of this tree?

How long are the sentences for the deforestation of the Brazilian rainforest? How long is each tree surgeon getting?

How long is the sentence for everyone who removes trees overhanging their property?

Your argument is odd

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lessglittermoremud · 15/07/2025 22:13

ObelixtheGaul · 15/07/2025 19:58

YANBU. I was watching a truly awful episode of 24 hours in police custody last week. This man had thousands of images and videos of girls in their late teens/early twenties, video footage of him raping girls obviously not fully conscious. Victims had no idea what he did to them.

10 years he got because he pleaded guilty to one count of rape, one count of voyeurism and one count of public exposure. 10 years for a vile individual who groomed young women, got them to his flat, got them so drunk/drugged they couldn't consent. Footage included him dragging a young woman, unconscious, across a concrete floor. She was naked.

When someone gets 4 years for chopping down a tree, 10 years for all that individual did is doubly insulting, as if it wasn't insulting enough.

I saw that as well and couldn’t believe he got off with such a light sentence, he’ll be out in half that time.
I personally think they should have had to do community service, something forestry based and having to plant lots of lovely trees.
The tree was iconic but when you look at the sentences others receive for things like causing death by dangerous driving etc it does seem bonkers

CorbyTrouserPress · 15/07/2025 22:11

nam3c4ang3 · 15/07/2025 22:06

yeah - its wild isnt it. Im not from here but it absolutely astounds me how lenient the system is here - im my country we have the death penalty.

As you’re not from England please don’t believe the OP’s claim that there is ‘no jail time for rape’ as this is categorically not true if convicted, although I do agree that sentencing for rape is still too lenient.

Tiswa · 15/07/2025 22:09

The problem isn’t sentencing - the sentence here seems perfectly fine for the crime and the average sentence for rape is between 4 to 19 years

the issue in the justice system is the fact very few cases make prosecution and even fewer make sentencing - that is the issue

KaleQueen · 15/07/2025 22:07

@MarxistMags Well lots of people did so I feel sorry for your me me me attitude and lack of care for a thing of beauty. Says a lot about you.

SALaw · 15/07/2025 22:07

@krustykittens the report and news story contain terrible findings but still don’t back up the OP’s comment on convicted rapists regularly receiving community service orders.

Grammarnut · 15/07/2025 22:07

Very true. If cutting down a tree gets 4 years (and I agree with this sentence - do not cut down beautiful trees) then a rapist should get life with parole.