4 yrs for cutting down tree, no jail time for rape

[Barnbrack]

Why are 2 men being given custodial sentences for cutting down a tree when men convicted of rape regularly get suspended sentences.

Is an important tree more important than a random woman! Justice system seems to think so.

This post sets up false equivalence.

Four years in jail for cutting down a tree, however famous it may be, is ridiculous.

Some convicted rapists do receive scandalously lenient sentences.

Both can be true at the same time.

I think 4 years is lenient. But then I think all rape convictions should automatically be life, with plentiful extra torture dependent on the horror of the crime. I don't think it's helpful to say that because we don't punish rapists strongly enough we should lower the penalty for all other crimes.

The cost of imprisoning them also makes it ridiculous. They should have been given a few thousand hours of community service planting trees or some such.

it doesn’t make sense, it really doesn’t.

Maybe if prisons weren't full of people who'd written something on social media, there'd be space for more rapists?

They ARE true at the same time. It’s not theoretical. It is fucking shameful.

4 years is the right sentence for chopping down such a sacred and protected tree. But the sentence for rape should be higher.

You cannot compare the two crimes though. It's not the fact that 4 years is too long for these tossers , it highlights the fact that sentences for other crimes are offensively lenient. So yes, they should have got 4 years but overall our sentences should be far longer for all crime, with no chances of appeal or early release

Men like trees.

Bugger all. Trouble is, too few of the women were willing to press charges. From prison on remand, he used mates to pressurise girls into keeping quiet.

I was in tears watching it.

Which men have got a suspended sentence for a conviction of rape?

They have 4 years, but will be released probably half way through.

Rape is a minimum of 4 years .. in most cases longer, and these are minimum sentences, so no early releases.

People are conflating things

Men under 25 are not exempt from criminal responsibility in Scotland.

I’d be interested too..

And all the talk of a false equivalence. No, it’s a very good opportunity to look at what prison is supposed to do.

Justice - women need that
Reduce recidivism - sexual offending has an extremely high rate. Chopping down old trees doesn’t.
Reducing population offending - sexual offending is common and higher sentencing is a signal that women’s safety is important. Trees? Is this a huge issue?
Taking people off the streets - see recidivism. The average rapist is going to reoffend in 4 years. Put him in prison, he won’t find another woman to offend with there.

But, men like trees.

We jail climate protestors for longer than this - and they want to save the trees

@Barnbrack Can you give us examples of cases where a man convicted of rape got a suspended sentence?

You can be for tougher prosecution and sentencing of rape AND also agree about this jail sentence for felling a tree.

This is what I believe as well

Sex offenders have their own prisons. So nobody is taking places

I was thinking this earlier myself OP and feeling furious. Now we know our importance in the scheme of things. Far less important than a tree.

I thought this when I heard the sentencing. If it’s trees or dogs everyone weeps. But I think about those poor girls and women in Rochdale, and all those other shit hole grooming towns - still no one gives a shit.

I think you'll find they have separate wings in regular prisons but I'm prepared to be proved wrong, if you can.

I know I know, I wasn’t meaning it in the literal sense. More expressing annoyance that community based sentences/slap on the wrists are preferred over custodial sentences. Sick of seeing violent offenders not being jailed because they are under 25.

there are seperate prisons for sex offenders. No other crime. Just sex offenders. And there are many prisons dedicated to them.

any on wings are usually on remand.

I was on the wings today.

https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/man-jailed-three-years-rape-girl-12/

Man cuts down tree = four years.
Man rapes twelve year old girl = three years.

Yes sentencing in this country is ridiculous. Do something that makes the Daily Mail angry like spray paint, graffiti, protesting, in famous/historic spots (especially any action aimed in any way against the ruling class/establishment or that might offend that group) and you’ll feel the full force of the law. Horrific random acts of violence against unknown members of the public = shrug. Famous shrubs and statues are considered of more value by the establishment than the vast majority of humans. Welcome to Britain.