I'm not linking to the DM, but Barrister Barbara Hewsin suggests lowering the age iof consent to stop the scapegoating of old men accused of abuse.

[INeedThatForkOff]

I've been very glad to see that times have moved on since my teachers husband tried to assault me on a Year 9 camping trip. I'd be outraged if what happened to me 20+ years ago happened to my DD now.

However Barbara Hewson suggests that 'misdemeanours' such as Ms Hewson argues that 'touching a 17-year-old?s breast, kissing a 13-year-old, or putting one?s hand up a 16-year-old?s skirt' could be addressed by lowering the age of consent to 13.

It was only a matter of time, I suppose, before views like this were reported.

The Sexual Offences act came in in 2003. Non prosecution of teenagers of similar ages is made clear in that, unless exploitation or abuse is involved. This doesn't apply in Scotland, but it does in England.

I saw this too yesterday and was just inscened (amongst other things), the utter disbelief that a female human rights barrister could genuinely claim to own those beliefs and want legislation changed in line with them?

Anyone who doubts the impact of childhood abuse, at whatever 'end of the scale', this woman would place it please see thread linked below [it is one started by me but before anyone goes off at me for putting it here for people to see/read/add to/maybe help THEM, can I please suggest they read the - directly relevant - posts on there before they do that?]

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/1745618-WOULD-YOU-NOW-GO-FORWARD-REPORT-AN-HISTORICAL-SEXUAL-ATTACK-Now-that-the-police-DO-seem-to-be-taking-reports-of-sexual-abuse-assault-far-more-seriously

And MsFanacker - hugs, just hugs as no language is enough

Oh dear, she's instructed on one of my cases. Hoping my client doesn't read the DM or MN!

Sam, then one of two things happened:

1. The sixteen year old was exploiting the fifteen year old.
2. The CPS ignored government guidelines and the defence team were too incompetent to notice.

Either way, the guidelines on this are available on the CPS website.

She was on the Jeremy Vine show at lunchtime and was truly odious, I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
She was comparing having your breasts groped to the continental tradition of kissing each other 3 times on the cheek as a greeting. WTF?
I also wondered what had gone on in her past to make her think that these two things were comparable.

Loathe Jeremy Vine, not surprised he would have her on his show. The Jimmy Saville thing seems to have caused a sea change in how sexual offences are regarded ( finally) Far from it being a "witch hunt" as some commentators have suggested, it is actually more about women seeing that yes they will be believed which is why SO MANY have come forward. And it doesn't matter how long ago it happened, it's still a crime. Calls to rape crisis helpline have increased by 100% recently for the very same reason...

She should be sacked. She does not deserve her position. Disgraceful comments.

I wouldn't trust her with my children.

Jeremy Vine read out her piece but the woman on the prog was someone else-Kate Cockerill, or someone?

I was shocked the other day to find the legal age of consent in Spain is only 13??

I had no idea it was so low.

Worra Is there not other circumstances to that though? Like 13 with someone up to 3 years older or something?

Maybe that's somewhere else.

I'm not sure Margery but I don't think so?

Also many countries have no age of consent at all for lesbian sex which I find mind boggling

I'm pretty sure the UK doesn't have an age of consent for lesbian sex, it's because there is no actual penetration, I think.

I find it strange as well, just because a penis is used doesn't make lesbian sex any less maturity dependant to cope with.

Will google.

resipa it's all over the media, including the TV/radio news.

I've just googled this map Margery. If you hover over the different countries, it tells you the age.

chartsbin.com/view/hxj Some countries have no age at all long as the kids are married

I didn't know it was 17 in Ireland!

I didn't know that either and my family are Irish

UK says 16 for straight and lesbian

Yes, let's all feel sorry for the fucking perverts and not their victims, evil witch.

It's depressing to see how many countries on that have lesbian sex as illegal and it'll be the same for men too.

That's what I thought

It's either illegal for both sexes or just illegal for men and not females - therefore no legal age for lesbian sex.

It's as though it doesn't 'count' somehow

It makes me wonder what other strange ideas she has. I find her comments repulsive and as already been said earlier in this point - where
does the 13 leave girls under this age 'oh she looked 13 you know, how was I to know she was only 9'.
The stupid woman should be sacked immediately AND forego her no doubt large pension that we will be paying for.

SC, I didn't think you were arguing and I didn't mean to sound that way either. It is hard to work out tone when we are reading comments rather than speaking in person.

Fanjo I think there is a lot of countries where it's illegal for men and not women. I have no idea though.

Worra :( I'm also still confused about Ireland, I can't believe I've never heard that before!