to think paying your victims off should not be a part of any legal system?

[A580Hojas]

as in Michael Jackson, Prince Andrew et al.

It just means the wealthy don't have to face justice. It's a bloody farce.

And the victims who accept the pay-off ... I can almost see why, but otoh doesn't it kind of make them look like a dodgy gold-digger?

Its a fairly ancient practice, our history of it goes back to at least Saxon times

Pay-offs are only a factor in civil trials, so nobody is 'facing justice' in any case.

If you are convicted in a criminal trial, you might be fined or expected to pay compensation, but then you are still guilty.

It doesn't apply to criminal cases. However that doesn't mean our criminal justice system is fair, good barristers and solicitors cost a fortune most couldn't afford. Furthermore 'white collar' crime is not as well reported and lesser jail sentences. If you look at official stats, it's something ridiculous like over 40% of inmates are illiterate, then higher percentages from poorer backgrounds. It's not a level playing field.

You misunderstand the basic differences between civil and criminal courts.

You can't make financial settlements as part of the criminal system, only the civil system, so the alleged perpetrators are not "facing justice".

Civil courts can't incarcerate people, they mostly deal in financial settlements or damages.

Criminal courts are where the state deals out justice through sentencing.