former Dragon's Den panelist trial

[onceuponalurker]

AIBU to not see all the threads about this now acquitted Dragon? Where is the outrage?

[OwlCurrency]

Teenagers will lie about their age. But that doesn't mean it's reasonable to suspect everyone who looks young of being a liar.

[dustarr73]

I never once said she deserved it.But if you put a profile on a Sugar Daddy website,come on what was she expecting.Candy Crush.

And as everyone is pointing out she was 13,she is 3 years under age for sex and 5 years underage for being an adult,she shouldnt have been able to meet him let alone have sex.If her parents didnt know what she was up too,why a random man on the street.

[JingsAndCrivens]

Yes, poor 'random man on the street'. Poor fella was duped!

Maybe he should get his £120 back.

[NeedsAsockamnesty]

She was 13 it does not matter what she was expecting the adults in the world need to protect children, even if it is from themselves

[dustarr73]

But he was random,he didnt know her.Hence random.

[OwlCurrency]

What I don't understand is why a jury believes him, but some of you think you know more about the case than they did.

[dustarr73]

Paedo on every corner OwlCurrancy.Makes everyone feel better about their own failings.

[JingsAndCrivens]

But he wasn't a random man on the street was he? They obviously been in contact and arranged to meet. Hence not random.

[Highsteaks]

I never once said she deserved it.But if you put a profile on a Sugar Daddy website,come on what was she expecting.Candy Crush.

It doesn't fucking matter 'what she was expecting' because she was a child.

[JingsAndCrivens]

What are you on about now dustarr?

[dustarr73]

If i join an adult website like Mumsnet i expect to talk to adults.If i meet someone off here i would expect them to be over 18.Its not rocket science.

[JingsAndCrivens]

I expect to speak to adults too........

[LurcioAgain]

So question why a 57 year old man would get off on having sex with a 13 year old who was 5" tall and under 6 stone and you're immediately someone who sees a paedo on every corner?

You really are keen to defend the morally indefensible, aren't you?

[Scarydinosaurs]

Dustarr do you have much experience with 13 year olds?

They are incredibly naive and bluff and want to give the impression they know loads, even if the truth is different.

She made a massive error, but at 13 she doesn't have the maturity to make reasoned adult decisions. The law is flawed- the onus should be on the man to check, and I don't care if it is socially awkward for him, if you are faced with the opportunity to have sex with a 'woman' who is slightly built, you check her age. She wouldn't get served in a bar, and if she did, the bar staff would be culpable. It is outrageous that having sex with someone is viewed differently.

[PosieReturningParker]

She was "seventeen" and poor, in his head, at which point would we think he didn't hold all the power?

[dustarr73]

No im defending someone who was found not guilty,and they have a lot more evidence than we have.

I expect to speak to adults too........and have a discussion like an adult as well*.

[CarbonEmittingPenguin]

I joined this thread early doors and outlined why (legally) he wasn't found guilty.

In my own personal opinion, I think when he was contacting women on that Sugar Daddy site he knew full well what it entailed i.e. paying women for sex. But then he happened upon a 13yr old and thought 'why not'. Even though his defence argued that he thought she was of an age to consent, I personally think he knew she wasn't.

I'd also add that at this point we must all know full well how much the law and morality are often at odds. Just because something is legally permissible does not make it right.

[LurcioAgain]

I have said several times up thread that I accept that he's been acquitted. That doesn't mean that I can't think he is an immoral scumbag. Because he is.

[dustarr73]

Of course i have experience of a 13 year old,i was one.And i have had 2 teenagers since.Im not a complete gobshite.

[nebulae]

What I don't understand is why a jury believes him, but some of you think you know more about the case than they did.

We don't know that the jury believed him. The verdict isn't about what the jury believes, it's about what the jury believes has been proved.

[StrawberryDelight]

I have a cousin who's 14 and I've given lifts to her and her friends a few times when they've gone out for a meal. It's bloody scary seeing some of them dressed up, there are a couple who I would easily age at 18/19, if I didn't know them.

I can see why he wasn't convicted. It was an adult website. She said she was 17. I can well believe that she possibly looked 17, going on my experience.

Yes it makes him a bit of a dirty old bugger - the thought of a 50 odd year old man and a 17 year old girl is ick. BUT it doesn't automatically make him a paedophile.

[MaisyMooMoo]

Plus if he wanted someone younger he wouldnt have joined an adult website,he could have just joined some gaming site and pretended h he was 12 or something.

He's too clever to put himself in a position to be seen as grooming. He didn't need to anyway, 'sugar daddy' says it all with regard to the age group he was targeting.

[OwlCurrency]

If he wanted a thirteen year old, why would he pursue someone saying they were older? She must legitimately have seemed older than this.

I still agree that he is a horrible person and that he deserved to go to court. But the law allows the question of awareness because she was old enough to arguably make a convincing case of being a few years older. It isn't many.

[MaisyMooMoo]

In porn there is a market for 'barely legal' where men get off on knowing the girl is legal but doesn't look it. This is what he was trying to achieve in reality hence why he targeted someone so young looking.

[dustarr73]

Yes but they are the legal age,so not the same thing at all.