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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to get a prison sentence for wearing looted goods is totally over the top

79 replies

tralalala · 14/08/2011 21:00

Mum gets 6 months for wearing shorts from her flat mate who looted.

story here

So her kids have no mum for 6 months for wearing stolen goods. Bad idea, big mistake, give her community service...

but after years of working in domestic violence in which men (and women) have got less for beating the shit out of their partners, where repeat burglars don't get sent down etc etc, I think this is mental.

OP posts:
FabbyChic · 14/08/2011 21:04

It is not over the top at all, they are knowingly wearing stolen property, you do get done for receiving, and that is exactly what they have done.

Can't do the time? don't do the crime.

BigBabyBoots · 14/08/2011 21:04

I wonder what the flatmate will get though??

babeinthewood · 14/08/2011 21:07

I see your point when compared to domestic violence, and various other crimes in fact, drink driving for starters!

They are making examples of people, which they should, I just hope that it sets a president for all crimes not just ones that are all over the media.

So in once sense you are and in one sense you are definately not :)

Takitezee · 14/08/2011 21:08

I've seen a few of these types of posts and really don't believe that mums should be treated differently to anyone else. I think it's awful that the children have to go through that but the blame should be put firmly on the mums' shoulders.

Original poster
tralalala · 14/08/2011 21:08

compare it to what people get for far worse violent crime and it comes across as a knee jerk reaction

OP posts:
Hulababy · 14/08/2011 21:09

If you take stolen goods from someone it is a crime. this woman will most definitely have known what she was doing. If you don't want to do the punishment, which is standard punishment for dealing with stolen goods, then don't do the crime in the first place. Being a mum does not make you exempt from the law. Would you feel the same if it was dad being punished too?

Hulababy · 14/08/2011 21:10

It isn't a knee kerk reaction. People go to prison for this regularly. It is not a punishment made up just for the riots and looting.

Original poster
tralalala · 14/08/2011 21:10

tbh i think it isa very comparitvely harsh sentence for anyone man, woman or child,

OP posts:
Original poster
tralalala · 14/08/2011 21:11

hulababy find me one example where someone has gone to prison for handling stolen goods worth less than £100.

OP posts:
northernruth · 14/08/2011 21:13

I find it odd if it is a first offence tbh. People get less for domestic violence etc and even for basic shoplifting. I do feel that the looters and rioters are being made an example of for political ends tho - particularly struck with me that they are to be evicted from social housing, yet the same penalty doesn't apply to other convicted criminals eg drug dealers receiving suspended sentences.

Lets not forget that some of the rioters will have been caught up in a group mentality.....

Not saying they shouldn't be punished but if we had taken this line with petty crime before now many of these lawless youths wouldn't be on the streets anyway!

Macaroona · 14/08/2011 21:13

Someone who stole £3.50 worth of bottled water from Lidl got 6 months.

meditrina · 14/08/2011 21:16

There's quite a lengthy thread about this here which you might like to look at.

Hulababy · 14/08/2011 21:16

I worked in a male prison for a few years til recent. I worked with with adults and young offenders from cat C to cat A and restricted. I also dealt with Cat D/open site prisons. I can show you examples of all mnner of crimes that people have committed. However, what you also need to know istheir background , thier criminal history, and all the rest. It is extremely unlikely that someone would go to prison for 6 months for a one off, first time offence. however this background information would not be published generally by the media and may well not be knon by them anyway.

Believe me it is not uncommon to go to prison for handling stolen goods. I do know.

The bottom line is still - if you don't want the punishment then think first before comitting a crime. Once you decide to commit a crime you can't then complain if you get caught and punished in a way a court sees fit, not even if you think they are using you to set an example.

Original poster
tralalala · 14/08/2011 21:20

Hulababy you of all people then should know that this sort of sentence is extremely unusual.

OP posts:
Original poster
tralalala · 14/08/2011 21:20

thanks meditrina will have a look, managed to miss it

OP posts:
meditrina · 14/08/2011 21:22

According to t'other thread, you can get up to 14 years for handling stolen goods.

Hulababy · 14/08/2011 21:24

It is but it is not unknown either, especially in this sort of environment. But to me it is irrelevant. the law has been used to its fullest extent. These people did wrong. They knew exactly what they were doing. They committed a crime. They can't then go whinging about it afterwards when they get caught. Too late then. they should have thought of it beforehand and done the right thing. By accepting stolen goods from the looting they are saying they think the riots and looting is just and acceptable. People were killed because of lloters and rioters. Those accepting stolen goods are as guilty in some ways as they are now benefitting from crimes which resulted in murder and manslaughter.

Of course people will be used as an example in these kind of times.

So people should start thinking - commit a crime = punishment.

The only person to blame for her children not being with her for the ext few weeks - and it is very unlikely she'll serve the full term anyway - is the mum herself. She knew she was doing wrong but she chose to do so anyway. It is her own fault I'm afraid.

Harsh punishment maybe, but within the law and set out as being one of the punishments available for that crime.

babeinthewood · 14/08/2011 21:28

totally agree Hulababy - who wants to give their children that kind of influence anyway? seriously?!

Original poster
tralalala · 14/08/2011 21:28

but hulababy do you feel having worked in a prison that it is an effective deterent?

and also given the severe shortage of prison places that they should be reserved for violent offenders?

OP posts:
babeinthewood · 14/08/2011 21:35

you have a point there tralalala, a lengthy community service order might do em some good, get their lazy arses moving! Grin

Original poster
tralalala · 14/08/2011 21:37

I would have got all the ones caught out cleaning the streets the day after.

OP posts:
Mowlem · 14/08/2011 22:30

Whilst not justifying what they did - it does smack of another example of the rich getting away with it, whilst the poor have to pay.

How many MPs were sent to prison for their illegal fiddling of rules? And just how many got away with excuses like 'It was sent to the wrong address'. Most of those MPs got away with just paying the money back. The poor never get let off this lightly.

MrsRhettButler · 14/08/2011 22:35

Agree with mowlem

And I think this is a ridiculously harsh sentence im with you op

Mowlem · 14/08/2011 22:35

This illustrates my point well (the bit in the middle!)

nathanieltapley.com/2011/08/10/an-open-letter-to-david-camerons-parents/

mummytotwoboys · 14/08/2011 22:37

seems harsh, but they did say they would take these matters very seriously . . it CANT be allowed to happen again, think of those peoples homes, businesses etc. ask them if they think its too much.