to think that 8 years is not enough?

[negrilbaby]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-31656934

Gary Glitter gets 16 years.

This man raped a 3 year old boy and sexually assaulted a teenage girl and got only 8 years. I don't understand

OP YANBU. It's a disgrace.

Summerbreezer I don't think the problem is with the legal system, but would you agree that Judges perhaps should have a tighter governing body (whatever that is, maybe you can tell us...)? Especially as it seems they can be so highly subjective (and lenient) with sentences, which can and do shock the majority...?

In England there are sentencing guidelines that must be followed which is why there is room for sentences to be seen as lenient. Too lenient and the sentence can be reconsidered.

I don't understand this. At all.

How can it be justified that one gets 8 years, the other 16? And as others have said, Watkins got 35 (which is still too lenient IMHO).

Summerbreezer I do agree with you that, compared to other countries, we are pretty lucky with our legal system. But looking at some of the things that go on, cases that don't go to court because it would be too expensive to prosecute, the fact that the entire system is under funded, that victims are being let down time and again. Yes we're lucky, but something has got to change before it is even considered reasonable (if we assume that perfection will never be attained).

OFF WITH THEIR GOOLIES!

I'm grateful that our legal system is better than the one currently operating in Syria, of course I am. That doesn't mean that we can't question our own legal system and wonder if it can be made better. A man who a raped a three year old is going to serve less than 6 years in prison. That's not right regardless of what is going on in Syria, China or Uganda.

I'm not normally part of the hang-em-or-flog-em brigade but I think if you put your penis into a child there is no place for you on this planet. Or if you facilitate a man putting his penis into your child.

I agree. I'm normally very left leaning in my views but some things are beyond the pale.

Aside from the light sentence it was unbelievable that Glitter's -still has-fans were waving and supporting him in/around the court!

Strike out fail but you get the idea.

Sorry for my faux pas last night I completely misread the first post!

Summerbreezer I don't think the problem is with the legal system, but would you agree that Judges perhaps should have a tighter governing body (whatever that is, maybe you can tell us...)? Especially as it seems they can be so highly subjective (and lenient) with sentences, which can and do shock the majority...?

Well, I can only talk about E&W, and this is in Scotland. In E&W there are sentencing guidelines that must be followed in many cases. If the judge departs from the guideline, they must give specific reasons for doing so.

If an offence is considered "unduly lenient", it can be referred by the Attorney General to the Court of Appeal for review. so there are checks and balances in place.

I think it is very unlikely he would have got such a light sentence in an English or Welsh court.

Thanks for coming back summerbreezer that info is helpful.

That seems really lenient. He raped a three year old boy. Appalling. In English law the maximum for rape is life. Not sure about Scotland.
What's also odd is he presumably entered a not guilty plea and the now-19 year old victim (at least-not sure about the child victim, I imagine they use the Police's video evidence for him) wouldve been put through a trial, cross-examined etc. 8 years is way too short and one can only hope that someone attacks the defendant in prison.