How did this man only get 7 years for kidnapping his ex-girlfriend who will never recover from her injuries?

[JackieWeaverHandforthCouncil]

news.sky.com/story/amp/angel-lynn-shocking-video-shows-moment-teenager-is-kidnapped-by-controlling-boyfriend-before-falling-out-of-van-on-a6-near-loughborough-12526260

She’d left him as he was controlling her so he kidnapped her off the street and she fell out of the van.

Surely kidnap alone is a life sentence?

This is so awful.

I would like to write to

www.gov.uk/ask-crown-court-sentence-review

Does anyone know the date when the sentence was given?

@Italiangreyhound

This is so awful.

I would like to write to

www.gov.uk/ask-crown-court-sentence-review

Does anyone know the date when the sentence was given?

Yesterday.

www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicester-news/beautiful-kidnap-victim-now-unable-6555498

Imagine being so terrified that jumping out of a van seems like the safer option.

That’s utterly horrific. I’m sitting here with my baby daughter fast asleep on me and can’t imagine something so awful happening to her. I’d honestly hunt the fucker down. Poor woman.

I’d be hiring someone to serve justice when he was released or dishing it myself.

“Hopefully no woman will step anywhere near him for the rest of his life.” They will- I guarantee it.

When will women be taken seriously FFS? Never it seems… Not even when they’re dead!

Presumably she jumped because he (or both of them) threatened her!? Why else would she jump?

Frightening. So he’s out in 3/4 years to terrorise other women?

Surely the sentence should be the same/almost the same as murder?

I cannot believe how soft sentences are unless you actually kill someone.

Big fat no to "let's empty the prisons of non violent offenders". Thieves and fraudsters, and their ilk, also need locking up. These include for example people who trick the elderly to steal from them, or people who steal life's savings from the hard working innocent. Like fuck should they get out just because the government is failing badly on violence and women's rights. As ever, it's not one or the other. That's the sort of thinking that let's them get away with being so shit in general.

All I can think is how absolutely terrified she must have been . Abducted in broad daylight and now alone in a speeding van with two abusive men.

He got 7 years because they couldn't prove how she left the van.
If they could prove he pushed her or caused her to fall out that would have changed the charge and the sentence.
So sad and disappointed for her family. It's disgusting that he's only going to serve a short amount of time for something so horrific.

@Santahasjoinedww

Hopefully no woman will step anywhere near him for the rest of his life.

I admire your optimism. I'm sorry to say that I don't share it.

@nettie434

Is there any way the public can ask for the sentence to be reviewed?

There is TerribleCustomerCervix. It's called the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme.

www.gov.uk/ask-crown-court-sentence-review

The defendants who dragged the policeman along when he tried to confront them did have their sentences increased. However, the man who used a 'rough sex gone wrong' defence did not. In the latter instance, there was no victim or witness to give evidence to contradict what the defendant said, a situation highlighted by an earlier poster.

I wonder if counsels for the defence ever regret their success in defending their clients.

In terms of the "rough sex gone wrong" cases, I wonder if something could be written into law that unless the defendant can prove that the victim did consent to it, the crime should default to murder, not manslaughter. I know that we don't want to go against the principle of "innocent until proven guilty" but in these cases we already know beyond reasonable doubt who killed the women, we just can't contradict his claim that she consented because the only witness who could contradict it is dead.

Otherwise we should just change the sentencing guidelines such that these cases go to the top end of the manslaughter guideline - remember that a life sentence can be an option (though the 15 years usually served inside is a pretty appalling reflection of how short a life can be).

@Cheeserton

Big fat no to "let's empty the prisons of non violent offenders". Thieves and fraudsters, and their ilk, also need locking up. These include for example people who trick the elderly to steal from them, or people who steal life's savings from the hard working innocent. Like fuck should they get out just because the government is failing badly on violence and women's rights. As ever, it's not one or the other. That's the sort of thinking that let's them get away with being so shit in general.

Elon Musk was complaining that there aren't enough people to colonise Mars.

I can think of a few people I'd like to give a one-way ticket to...

FFS 7 years… this is completely heartbreaking and this sentence isn’t justice, it’s an insult to Angel and her family!

The thread about Yasmin who was murdered in broad daylight by her violent ex husband was posted roughly 3 days ago and only about 87 posts, multiple ones by individual posters.

Here we’re on nearly 70 and a day hasn’t even passed.

I wonder why Mumsnet women care about one more than the other?

I don't understand this at all.
Yes she would never have been in the van unless she had been kidnapped.
Also as the driver don't you have responsibility to ensure your passengers are safe?
Also she was discovered by someone else so she was left by the two (ABSOLUTE VILE EXCUSES FOR MEN) to die by the side of the road?
That all must add to the sentence? Surely?
They alone entirely created the situation that led to that beautiful woman losing her life as she knew it, and deserved to live it.

I think the problem is that the maximum sentence for kidnapping is extraordinarily low at 12 years. If you take a hypothetical situation where, for instance, someone is kidnapped and kept locked up for several weeks in terror, it's utterly inadequate.

In this case they were limited to a kidnapping sentence and couldn't take into account the injuries as there was no evidence of how the victim came to fall from the van. When they have to start from 12 years and give credit for things like a clean record it doesn't leave them much room for manoeuvre.

Why do they have to give credit for a clean record in a case such as this? They don't.

The sentencing guidelines say they do.

In a way it's the other way round: in deciding on sentence, the judge has to take into account aggravating factors, which include the severity of the crime, the vulnerability of the victim, and the history of the defendant. So if the defendant has a history of previous offences, that will increase the sentence. When you are working to a maximum of 12 years, that is the sentence that would be passed for a crime at the most severe end, involving the most vulnerable victim, and for an offender with a very bad previous history. So if one or more of those aggravating factors isn't present, the sentence has to be reduced accordingly.

Then the law is an ass…

My guess was that she did jump out but I think anyone in this situation would do the same! Imagine the sheer terror you would feel. What was he planning to do with her had she not jumped exactly? I don’t think he was kidnapping her to take her home and bake her a cake. Ridiculous sentence, she has a life altering brain injury now.

@Why2why

The thread about Yasmin who was murdered in broad daylight by her violent ex husband was posted roughly 3 days ago and only about 87 posts, multiple ones by individual posters.

Here we’re on nearly 70 and a day hasn’t even passed.

I wonder why Mumsnet women care about one more than the other?

Or maybe people didn’t see the other one/the thread title didn’t draw people in.

I certainly didn’t see the thread you’re referring to.

I do understand why you posted that comment, why2why. I didn't see the Yasmin thread but there were two threads about the report of the motorist being charged with murder in which some posters also refer to Yasmin:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4462880-Arrested-for-murder-wtaf?pg=7

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4462766-To-think-he-shouldn-t-be-charged-with-murder

The eloquence of the amazing Mina Smallman has helped to raise awareness of different standards in reporting violence against women. Both women were victims of male violence. I'm in London and there has been a lot of coverage about Yasmin on the local news. I hope that her family have not been subjected to additional distress by a lack of concern about what happened to her from the public. What is shocking is that she had taken out an injunction against her ex husband and the family feel she did not get enough support from the police.

@Lostcovid

Then the law is an ass…

As I said, I think the problem is that the maximum sentence for kidnapping is too low, not that it's wrong to take into account previous convictions.

The sentence is being reviewed, and rightly so!