To find this effing unbelieveable **MNHQ adding content warning for CSA**

[Imnotafemistbut]

A man has raped a child and walks free from court as the judge appears to blame the child.

courtnewsuk.co.uk/rapist-walks-free-after-judge-says-12-year-old-was-sexualised/

This is a tragic story, we don't know enough about the girl to understand. As a 12 year old, her side of the story needs to be kept confidential.

It is shocking that a not-very-bright student who met up with someone on Tinder, believing her to be a consenting adult could have his life wrecked because he believed her lies. It appears that he was straight with her. I have also seen 12/13 year olds who look much older than they are.

It is also shocking that a 12 year has lost her childhood and felt that it was appropriate to be on Tinder.

Just a sad story all round, shows the importance of boys not just getting informed consent, but making sure the girls can give consent, which can be a challenge when you can get false ID for less than £20.

@sillysmiles

Even if he thought she was 16. He's 20. At 20 a 16 yr old is much younger - generally still in school, not sat state exams yet. 20 - finished school, working or in trade or in 3rd level education.

So how did he not cop a 12 year old?

He was 19 at the time, the girl was on Tinder (so he wasn't looking for underage) and some 12 year-olds would pass for 16.

@Cubit

I think it sets a worrying precedent, the onus was on him to confirm she wasn't a child - he didn't.

Does every person on Tinder ask for ID when they meet up with someone?

Anyone with sons needs to make sure they’ve asked for ID before they go anywhere because it’s literally on them to prove everything.

If she is savvy enough to convincingly fake everything else, age, car house etc etc then faking ID would be a breeze.

@whiteworldgettingwhiter

So the judge said: 'What I do know is that you were described by the first probation officer as presenting as immature even for your young age' to the rapist - yet she said that the victim was 'sexually suggestive'.

Lots about the rapist's 'supportive family'; nothing about the poor girl's family.

I wonder why. She has been let down.

Ridiculous victim blaming.

She had been kicked out by her parents and was living in a car (another reason he thought she was older apparently) I hate to think what kind of upbringing she had and how it can be undone.

What we don't know is what has happened to her since (hopefully now being Looked After)

@SleepingStandingUp

Do typical 12 year olds living in supportive loving homes come across as mature as 16 year olds? No. Although my niece was 11 when I got married and in her bridesmaid dress, make up and fancy hair she'd easily pass physically.

But this child isn't a typical girl fro ma loving home. There's no mention of her situation but she's posing on Tinder pretending to be 16+ and inviting men to come to visit her for sex. There's a hell of a lot of back story that will make her act and sound older.

I think the judges sentencing is probably fair. He didn't groom her. He didn't go in Tinder looking for sex with a child. Her actions gave the impression that she was older. He hasn't been found innocent, but she's accepted that this wasn't rape with intent to rape.

I only hope that the help given to him is reflected in this poor girl getting some intervention and supoort

Yes I wonder if some of the posters objecting would feel the same if it was their 17 year old son who had met and dated her .

I promise you my niece when she was 12 or 13 could have easily passed as 17 or 18 . She was fully developed and very confident and loved all the attention .

No one meeting her in a pub would have guessed at all .

@Omicrone

Why has the world suddenly turned so thick, and all our human recognition skills have suddenly just switched off?

Apparently it's impossible to tell who are men and who are women, and now it's Apparently impossible to tell who are 12 year old children and who are adults?

Have you seen some 12-year -olds lately?

Instagram and TikTok have a lot to answer for.

@Monkey2001

This is a tragic story, we don't know enough about the girl to understand. As a 12 year old, her side of the story needs to be kept confidential.

It is shocking that a not-very-bright student who met up with someone on Tinder, believing her to be a consenting adult could have his life wrecked because he believed her lies. It appears that he was straight with her. I have also seen 12/13 year olds who look much older than they are.

It is also shocking that a 12 year has lost her childhood and felt that it was appropriate to be on Tinder.

Just a sad story all round, shows the importance of boys not just getting informed consent, but making sure the girls can give consent, which can be a challenge when you can get false ID for less than £20.

Exactly , actually quite a terrible experience for the boy involved .

I hope the girl is getting the appropriate support. It’s a very sad case.

@whiteworldgettingwhiter

Are you seriously saying you can't tell the difference between a 12yo girl and an adult woman, *@ILoveAllRainbowsx*?

I have seen girls of that age from my school out in the evening and my OH has been shocked when I've told his their age. Some people on this site seem very naive though it's good to read so many confessing their own youthful mistakes.

I could easily pass for 16 at that age .

As for her conversational skills, have you met some 19 year old boys?

I have a 19 year old , his friends range from great to talk to really sensible young men right the way down to like speaking to my 11 year old and behaviour to match!

@Omicrone what part of my post is victim blaming?

He was 19 and thought she was 16. Not sure why you’re trying to imply he knew otherwise.

Let's hope the young man in this situation receives any support he might need, as well.

Just a sad story all round, shows the importance of boys not just getting informed consent, but making sure the girls can give consent, which can be a challenge when you can get false ID for less than £20.

I agree but if she’d had a fake ID people will still question whether he knew it was fake and make out like he’s a peado still.

If he genuinely believed the girl was 16 and he didn't force her to have sex then I don't see how it can be classed as rape. Who asks for proof of age before before sleeping with someone.

It sounds like the young man, who was 19 at the time, might have some 'learning needs', why else would the judge deem him so immature?

He was convicted and sentenced appropriately for the crime. He was 19 at the time and the judge says:

Judge Freya Newbery said there was 'no suggestion' Mascall had 'any paedophile tendencies at all' - adding that he thought she was an adult because 'she had a car and a place to live'.

'What there is instead is a young man who is relatively ordinary, immature and possibly naïve,' she said.

Would it be better for him to be locked up and the key thrown away, to destroy another young life forever when he is at no risk of reoffending (according to the judge)?

@EdenFlower

If he genuinely believed the girl was 16 and he didn't force her to have sex then I don't see how it can be classed as rape. Who asks for proof of age before before sleeping with someone.

It sounds like the young man, who was 19 at the time, might have some 'learning needs', why else would the judge deem him so immature?

Because sexual penetration with a child of that age is rape. End of. She CANNOT consent. The issue is then what sentence etc the Courts give.

The implication that the girl has been “sexualised” is that she has inappropriately been put into a sexual context and exploited. It’s not victim blaming it’s kind of the opposite and I hope she is being supported and looked after.

It does sound rough on the young man too. He didn’t seek out a child. I’m willing to believe the judge - with more information than I do - came to quite a nuanced judgement in a difficult case.

I just don't understand how this girl had a house and a car at 12, with seemingly no guardian?
I do agree the ruling was fair though.

@HaveringWavering

Er *@MNHQ* I just clicked on this thinking that CSA meant Child Support Agency.

Child support agency no longer exist. Why it would need a trigger warning is also beyond me...

I can easily see how this could happen. My daughter at 12 could easily pass for 18 if she was done up to do so - she had a curvy mature figure rather than that sort of coltish or baby-fat figure some girls that age have.

She also could sit and talk with her 20 year old cousin at an equal level - in fact not equal, the cousin was at a bit of a disadvantage. While not in the abnormal category she was low IQ, a little sheltered, and poorly educated, most of her conversation included things like reality tv shows, fashion, boys, and simple gossip.

@FridayiminlovewithRobertSmith

The implication that the girl has been “sexualised” is that she has inappropriately been put into a sexual context and exploited. It’s not victim blaming it’s kind of the opposite and I hope she is being supported and looked after.

It does sound rough on the young man too. He didn’t seek out a child. I’m willing to believe the judge - with more information than I do - came to quite a nuanced judgement in a difficult case.

It makes me wonder how often people think that the term sexualized is meant to be pejorative when applied to someone. If that's really what some people think it explains some conversations I've had about the fashion industry.

Edenflower it’s rape because she was 12. If you have sex with a 12 year old you are guilty of rape no matter how old you believe them to be. If she’d been 2 months older in 13-15 bracket he’d have been able to run ‘I reasonably believed she was 16’ defence and from judges sentencing comments probably not been convicted.
He was the one living in his car having been thrown out by religious parents. He spent 2 days hanging out around London with her and having sex with her. Nothing said about if girl was reported missing by parents or school - a 12 year old was with a man away from home for 2 days. They went shopping and to public places. In the cctv footage they appear as a teen couple.
The fact he has convinced judge he thought she was 16 after being together 2 days shows how unusual case must be. Yes at a glance some girls look older but she’s obviously maintained pretence over 2 days and phone/tinder messaging.

@EdenFlower

If he genuinely believed the girl was 16 and he didn't force her to have sex then I don't see how it can be classed as rape. Who asks for proof of age before before sleeping with someone.

It sounds like the young man, who was 19 at the time, might have some 'learning needs', why else would the judge deem him so immature?

Because it is rape. She cannot consent. He committed rape. That's why he pled guilty. There is no other plea and he had never denied sleeping with her, he thought she was over 16.

He has no need of having 'learning needs' ffs. He's just a young 19 year old who, unfortunately, reached out to another even younger child, both of who were actively looking for dates on Tinder.

The ONLY people who need to be identified and chastised here are the adults who are her legal guardians, the people who were not looking after her.

We can only assume that she is now being better cared for. And I hope he has support too.

In fact something just reminded me. Me at about 22 was on a ferry to Amsterdam, chatting to a woman and her daughters who I thought were older than me, and I definitely seemed less mature. Mother then mentions it's one of thems 16th birthday, the other being younger. Never felt so fucking ridiculous in all my life.

It’s not clear if she showed him her car and her place or perhaps just referenced them on texts or photos. He believed her. He’s a convicted rapist with all the implications for future that entails who has served a custodial sentence and now has a community and rehabilitation sentence. Girl two months older and I doubt it would have gone to court or if it did he was unlikely to be convicted.