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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:
LucreziaDomina · 15/08/2011 13:35

Excellent result!

Shame all sentances aren't do harsh.

FreePeaceSweet · 15/08/2011 13:37

Yes its very harsh. Rightly so too. Knowingly accepting stolen goods is the same as stealing.

dolldaggabuzzbuzz · 15/08/2011 13:40

Prison could ruin this young mother's life. The punishment does not match her crime. I don't condone what she has done, but she should be given a chance to redeem herself in a constructive way.

Who has NEVER made a mistake in their youth?

Ephiny · 15/08/2011 13:43

Committing a crime could ruin this young mother's life.

Of course we've all made mistakes when young, but I am fairly sure most of us did not steal or handle stolen goods or participate in riots at any age. And to be fair she is 24 so hardly a child!

BimboNo5 · 15/08/2011 13:43

Maybe she could have thought about the consequences then knowing full well she is a mother? Its no secret that handling stolen goods is a criminal offence is it?

BimboNo5 · 15/08/2011 13:45

The rioting and looting that has occured across the UK caused chaos, disruption, financial ruin, terror and even death for some. Anyone who has played any part in them no matter how minor needs to feel the full force of the law for exercising their choice to do so.

LucreziaDomina · 15/08/2011 13:46

It's not her first offence, she's 24 and a mother.

It seems as if she has probably already ruined her own life as she has a record already if she has been sent down now.
I doubt her and her scummy co looters gave a flying fuck about whose lives they were ruining last week.

Hope she does the full six months, personally.

OhdearNigel · 15/08/2011 13:47

"Who has NEVER made a mistake in their youth?"

Well I think I can safely say that any mistakes I did not involve being given a prison term for a dishonesty offence. SHE has ruined her life, not the court. When will people start accepting responsibility for their own choices ?

And she is 24. Not young. Far older than a lot of the "cannon fodder" sent to die in the trenches of WW1.

FreePeaceSweet · 15/08/2011 13:49

She isn't that young. Sure, I made mistakes as a teen but by age 16-17 I had grown out of expecting stuff to be handed to me on a plate. By 24 I was pg and working overtime to get all I needed for my son. I certainly wouldn't have done anything to jeopardise my family. She'll be out in 3 months. Hopefully this will work to her advantage and she won't expect to live a life supplemented by the crimes of others.

dolldaggabuzzbuzz · 15/08/2011 13:56

Sending this thieving mother to jail is like cutting off your nose to spite your face. It could destroy her family and will cost us thousands of pounds and achieve nothing.

What's wrong with 6 month's community service as a punishment? Why should her poor kids suffer so the DM mob can feel they've got their revenge?

BimboNo5 · 15/08/2011 13:59

Im certainly not a 'DM mob' so why dont you get your facts right. As I said before its not secret that handling stolen goods can carry a custodial sentence so how is it anybody's fault but her own? She isnt a young kid, shes an ADULT with responsibilities and if she fucks up then she only has herself to blame.

WhereYouLeftIt · 15/08/2011 14:00

If sentencing for handling stolen goods were consistently harsh, what effect would this have on theft? Because most of what is stolen is of no personal use to the thief, it is stolen to sell on. So if no-one would buy/handle stolen goods, the incentive to steal (apart from cash and what you wanted for yourself) is vastly reduced. So harsh penalties for fences could help to prevent crime, which is surely a desirable outcome.

FreePeaceSweet · 15/08/2011 14:13

The DM mob? I don't read that shite however if they saying that she deserves this punishment then I am with them. How come no one is concerned about all the dads being "taken away" from their poor children? If the courts were that lenient nobody would be serving any sentances at all.

Claw3 · 15/08/2011 14:19

"Sending this thieving mother to jail is like cutting off your nose to spite your face. It could destroy her family and will cost us thousands of pounds and achieve nothing"

Sending any mother to jail would have the same effect.

I dont get the mentality of thinking this particular mother should not have gone to jail. The Court sentenced her according to the guidelines that are in place. Either all mothers shouldnt go to jail for what is considered to be 'petty' crimes or they all do.

organicgardener · 15/08/2011 14:23

I don't quite get this.

How can some people suggest that all Mothers should be not considered for a jail sentence?

Let's just lock the Men up ehh?Confused

sausagesandmarmelade · 15/08/2011 14:23

Prison could ruin this young mother's life.

Had to respond to this one....

The collective action of the looters could well have ruined the business of the shopkeeper whose goods were stolen!

Just because this person is a mother it does not mean that she should receive a lesser sentence. She should be ashamed of what she did and for setting her child an apalling example.

sausagesandmarmelade · 15/08/2011 14:26

And neither do I read the Daily Mail..................

Cheap shot...to sling that crap at people who just have a different opinion to yourself.

Claw3 · 15/08/2011 14:30

Who suggested that Organicgardner?

organicgardener · 15/08/2011 14:33

dolldaggabuzzbuzz
Sending this thieving mother to jail is like cutting off your nose to spite your face. It could destroy her family and will cost us thousands of pounds and achieve nothing.

----------

Maybe I misread that?

mayorquimby · 15/08/2011 14:41

"Prison could ruin this young mother's life."

Prison ruins most peoples lives I'd imagine.

CharlieCoCo · 15/08/2011 14:42

?The first reaction you would expect some to have is ?get that stuff out of my house, I have two children that I?m responsible for?.
?You would expect decent people to speak up and say ?no, this is wrong, get that out of my house?.
?You are a role model to your sons, yet you decided to have a look at the goods and keep some for yourself.?

I agree with what the judge said. Also, WE don't know her or the full story and background, just by reading an article in the paper or online. The fact is, she handled stolen goods, the fact she is a parent-does that mean she should be let off? maybe this will also show her kids thats if you commit a crime, which she did, they will be punished.

spudulika · 15/08/2011 14:42

"How can some people suggest that all Mothers should be not considered for a jail sentence?"

Not if they're not a danger to society.

Children's emotional welfare is too important.

This mother should have been given a community sentence.

Claw3 · 15/08/2011 14:43

Oh right, Dolldagg is saying that just this particular mother should have not gone to jail, not all mothers.

Claw3 · 15/08/2011 14:49

Spud, thats the point, according to guidelines this offence did not warrant a community sentence.

So either the Law is changed to make exceptions to all mothers or its not.

mayorquimby · 15/08/2011 14:54

so can we just make this clear.
childless A commits and offence, mother B commits same offence. Only A goes to jail.
Father A commits and offence, Mother B commits an offence. Only A goes to jail?

Will this apply to all parents? or only single parents? or only single mothers? what about shared residency? what about single parents where the partner is still on the scene?
It's a ridiculous notion imho.