T/w To think that the news sites shouldn't show rapists photos

[bettybattenburg]

The news articles online are all showing photos of the convicted rapist. I can't help but think they shouldn't do this, if you've been a rapists target then seeing the smiling photo of the sick individuals responsible must be appallingly upsetting.

Whilst I certainly agree that it’s not ideal for victims, I also think it’s important that the rapist is finally named and exposed after such a long period of time of committing so many serious crimes and not being caught. The police have video evidence of almost 200 unique victims and haven’t been able to identify 70 of them, so seeing his photo may at least mean that other victims can potentially be identified and can seek medical assistance and victim support. Due to the nature of the crimes (being drugged and unconscious) his victims may otherwise be none the wiser, so seeing his image may help them remember meeting him or being at his flat. There’s no perfect way to handle this.

I agree with Rachelfromfriends1.

Besides, there are too many things that can be "triggers" to someone somewhere; we can't ban them all.

I think that they shouldn't be allowed the notoriety but I'm rethinking that after what Rachel said,

What is T/w?

Trigger warning, is what that means.

What I don’t get is why they’re showing his selfies and photographs of him looking rather jovial and cheery. Wouldn’t they normally publish a police mugshot instead?

By posting these cheery photos of him they’re painting an image of someone who looks almost innocent and incapable of doing what he did?

The photo with the ginger fringe/glasses is the mugshot. Apparently he enjoyed the trial and denied he did anything wrong so I’m not surprised he’s half smirking.

The rest of the photos are actually images he posted online himself on social media so yes they are cherry picked/jovial etc

I think the juxtaposition of his appearance vs his crimes is important. The fact that he looked incapable of what he did, allowed him to commit the crimes that he did - and also allowed him to remain undetected.

The police mugshots would be more appropriate than the 'boy next door' photos that they have shown.

I think its good it makes you more vigilant. People like that are amongst us abd everywhere.

Possibly the phone calls the police have received by potential victims have been occasioned by the photo, which would have looked like the smiley shite that they last saw.

OP, you are overthinking this.

Yeah I’ve read comments where people online recognised him due to seeing those same photos on his social media eg ex grindr dates, Facebook friends etc

The police mugshots would be more appropriate than the 'boy next door' photos that they have shown

Don't know who "they" is, but the whole point of the plausible is that they appear charming. Are sex abusers slavering, slack-lipped horrors? No. If they were, we'd see them coming and take appropriate action, but that's not how it goes.

Don't know who "they" is

They - the media - the subject of the thread is how the media are portraying this vile individual and showing his photos.

They - the media - the subject of the thread is how the media are portraying this vile individual and showing his photos

My point still stands.

I think you are missing the point spectacularly OP.

The jovial, boy next door photos are what his victims saw. His non threatening demeanour was key in enabling him to commit his crimes. A lot of his victims aren’t aware that they are victims and may be suffering without knowing the source of their pain.

Rapists come in every shape and size and a Police mugshot will only reinforce an idea that rapists look a certain way.

I’ve seen a photo in the newspaper this week of a rapist I used to know following his conviction. He looks grim in his police mugshot.

Should there be different rules for photogenic and non photogenic criminals?

I think once they've been convicted (as opposed to just arrested or charged) it's fair game. They definitely deserve to be fully publicised as a pp said.

if you've been a rapists target then seeing the smiling photo of the sick individuals responsible must be appallingly upsetting

I agree, but I think the public interest in demonstrating justice has been done outweighs this.

I agree with them publishing his pictures, I would assume having these pictures in the public domain will jog a lot of peoples memories about him, or lead to more victims coming forward.

I also think it is important to show that horrific crimes can be committed by someone who looks like a typical student etc and not someone you'd suspect.

I am surprised however that this whole case has managed to stay so tightly under wraps for so long.

No, they should. I get what you're saying, but we need to know who they are, they don't deserve anonymity, and it may prompt other victims to come forward.

By posting these cheery photos of him they’re painting an image of someone who looks almost innocent and incapable of doing what he did?

Which is exactly why the pictures are useful, you cannot spot a rapist, they look like your neighbours, relatives and friends.

The police said that a number of his other victims have come forward as a result of the reporting of the trial.

I suspect reporting was restricted precisely because this was such a huge trial, and he was so dangerous that noone wanted to allow even the slightest chance of him walking free.

I agree that naming, shaming, condemning and showing rapists as they might have appeared to their victims is a good thing. Helps to raise awareness and perhaps make other victims come forward.

OP, you mentioned notoriety, and I agree that not giving notoriety to terrorists and those claiming some sort of glory from their horrific actions is likely a good thing, but I’m not sure that that’s what this or most rapists actually want. I may be wrong.

They haven't identified all of his victims. These photos may bring them to the police.

And everyone needs to realise that rapists don't look like bogeymen they can be good looking and charming too.

I think in this case it is important to see him as he presented: cute, charming, harmless. It serves as a warning that what people look like and how they present socially doesn't always match up with who they are.

But I do think there is a general point about how media present offenders. Black, middle eastern and ethnic minority offenders are shown in photos where they look deranged, angry, threatening and criminal. White offenders are shown looking relaxed, charming, in familiar settings and even as angelic children. The narrative follows the photos with the former described as maniacal terrorist monsters, and the latter as misguided, lost and mislead.