To think the result of this rape trial is disgusting

[joystir59]

Man gets off completely Scot=free for raping a 12 year old girl, and that this result gives such a wrong message to men, in a world in which girls are never considered too young anyway. I'm enraged!
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-39305042

[FirstShinyRobe]

All of these examples of young girls looking older only reinforce the view that men should be more careful, if it's that frequent to be almost run of the mill.

[DonutCone]

I think a couple of posters have missed that he was 19 at the time, not 21 as he is now. So a 19 year old and '16' year old, not a 21 year old and a '16' year old.

[FirstShinyRobe]

All of these examples of young girls looking older only reinforce the view that men should be more careful, if it's that frequent to be almost run of the mill.

[1horatio]

To my mind HE was pretty much raped.

Not raped. but... maybe the right would would be coerced? Plus, there's the whole issue of his reputation being tarnished etc.


I'm not sure what I'd suggest. He obviously can't sue the girl... And he can't sue the parents either. Although I actually wish he could!

[RufusTheRenegadeReindeer]

joy is having to repeat herself ginky becuase some people are still struggling with the 'rape' bit

Like wings

[TheFallenMadonna]

Responsibility does not lie with a 12yo and I am pretty shocked that a teacher would say it did.

[DermotOLogical]

First what do you expect men to do? Ask for photo ID?!

I fail to see what else this man could have done. Even professionals assumed she was 16. She told people the same thing.

[TheFallenMadonna]

Is there any suggestion AT ALL that he was unwilling??

[BabychamSocialist]

TheFallenMadonna

Who's the teacher saying it did?

I'm a teacher and I don't think it's the girl's fault at all. She was not responsible for this. ALL kids of that age will try it on and pretend to be older to seem cool. It's the parent's responsibility to make sure that they don't push it too far and end up in situations like this, which are terrible for all involved.

[CoolCarrie]

OP, due to your posts on another thread, the photos of Michael Jackson of whom you are clearly a fan, I have a question for you, do you think he cared about the ages of the boys he abused?

[DermotOLogical]

Fallen she lied about her age, so part of the responsibility does lie with her. She probably had multiple reasons for doing so but she did lie.

I would say most of the responsibility lies with her awful upbringing.

[TheNameIsBarbara]

I think there is a difference between knowing between right and wrong and being able to consent to a sexual act. And actually children who commit crimes between the age of 10-14 are treated much more leniently (rightly so) due to the distinction of difference in their knowledge and understanding.

I appreciate that teenagers have an awful lot more information about sex at their fingertips, especially with smart phones and the internet. But I do believe that reading about sex and partaking in sexual activity are too different things and you do need a higher level of maturity for sexual consent IMO.

Lady Scott needs to have this decision and her judgment appealed by the CPS, with a complaint from the CPS about her disgusting judgement of the victim in this case. It is wholly wrong and doesn't feel like a credible enough reason to go outside the legislation in this case.

[TheFallenMadonna]

I completely disagree, as does the law, and I am gobsmacked at some of these posts.

[1horatio]

Responsibility does not lie with a 12yo

Does it lie with him?
He meets a girl at 4 in the morning. A 12 year old shouldn't be out there anyway.

She looks like she's between 16-20 (depending on who you're asking). Why should he have assumed that she's 12?

She enters a club. Probably with a fake ID. Why would he assume she was 12?!

She tells him she's above the age of consent... And, probably because she looks like it, acts like it and presumably has a fake ID... He believes her.


And now his photo is out there and his life has been ruined. It's imo actually genuinely disgraceful.

[RabbitSaysWoof]

I read Oblomov post as saying he should get anonymity too, not that the girl shouldn't.

[Sallystyle]

YANBU

There's a good discussion on Feminist Chat about this too.

[Oblomov17]

No madonna. She gets anonymity that's fine. I just don't think his photo should have been released either. I think it's wrong that he didn't get it.

[Sallystyle]

Sorry just noticed someone else mentioned the other thread.

[1horatio]

AT ALL that he was unwilling?

Well, she couldn't consent. So, yes. She was.

HOWEVER; I absolutely agree with the judgement in this case.

If somebody looks like they're 16 or older, acts like they're 16 or older and tells somebody they are 16 so they won't refuse to have sexual intercourse with them? Their chosen "victim" is imo not the responsible one.

Neither is she, btw.

Her parents however clearly are.

[80sMum]

OP, to answer your question; yes, YABVVVU!

I think it's disgraceful that this young man's name and a photograph of him have been published, yet the girl remains anonymous. IMO, they should BOTH have anonymity - she because she's a minor and he because this 'crime' was a genuine mistake and he's also a victim, in a way.

[1horatio]

She gets anonymity that's fine. I just don't think his photo should have been released either. I think it's wrong that he didn't get it.

Yup, absolutely agree with this!

[TheFallenMadonna]

He pleaded guilty to rape. No reason why he shouldn't be named.

[RJnomore1]

Well Star rather than fear for your son perhaps you teach him to know and respect his sexual partners. Ffs.

[AtSea1979]

He was probably punished enough by having to face the trial, his family and friends knowing he had sex with a 12 year old and thinking he might get locked away for many years.