Boy who threw fire extinguisher during student protests jailed

[bobthebuddha]

For 2 years and 8 months. Not condoning his actions in any way, but having read what his mother had to say I find myself feeling for her and him. Not a popular position I daresay.

If I'd been in her position I freely confess would have actively discouraged my son to hand himself in knowing that a) no-one had been hurt, dangerous as his action was b) he would be likely to be 'made an example of' (in the week that a man found guilty of severely beating a 2 year old walked free from court) and c) his life would indeed be 'ruined'. I hope I never find myself in that position once DS reaches 18...

"I think he handed himself in (could be wrong on that one)."

His mother had to persuade him to turn himself in to the police. Therefore his own response was to avoid taking responsibility.

And a statement he gave to the police shows signs of trying to avoid the responsibility for this.

"When I was told I had potentially endangered people, I felt sick."

"I was absolutely not intending that anyone in anyway would be hurt."

What did he think was going to happen when he threw a heavy object down at the crowd seven storeys below him?

If he's have turned himself in the moment the hunt for him began and hadn't then tried to make out that he didn't know full well that he was doing was incredibly dangerous I might have some sympathy for him.

That's not what happened.

He didn't want to face justice and he claims that he didn't think what he was doing was dangerous.

This story certainly demonstrates the danger of 'mob mentality'. I'm quite willing to believe that, as his mother says, he's usually a nice quiet bloke. But if you're a weak character & easily led it's all too easy to act out of character & end up turning into a vicious thug just because 'everyone else was doing it'. It's no defence. If my DS was old enough to be attending some big event like a protest that's the warning I'd want to pass on.

"With attitudes like yours, it's no wonder no one has any sense of societal or personal responsibility."

Very, very easy to be judgmental expat. I don't think that kind of comment is deserved quite frankly. Nor do you need to bring class into it. I'm talking as a mother who knows boys (yes, boys) of 18 can do the most idiotic things and knowing the fear I would have of what would happen to my child if he did something that stupid. I said quite clearly I wasn't condoning his actions and I was honestly imagining what I would do in her position. I hope you never have to put your assumed cast-iron morals into practice on your own child.

Sure, 18 year olds can join the army and die for their country. My father very nearly did so at that age in Korea. A friend was blown up next to him. I wouldn't for a minute describe him as a 'man' at that point in time & he wouldn't either.

'Very, very easy to be judgmental expat.'

I'm a parent, too. And you have no idea what my background is or what I've seen.

People do idiotic things. Some of these things are not only idiotic but also criminal.

'I hope you never have to put your assumed cast-iron morals into practice on your own child.'

I apply personal responsibility to myself as well as to my own children, as it appropriate to their age. As an adult, you do the crime, you do the time.

Life is not fair, it is hard and tough. If I teach them otherwise it is disillusioning them and doing them a great disservice.

The court and the law renders someone that age an adult, a man or a woman who, unless ruled insane, is answerable for his or her actions.

He could have received a maximum of 5 years.

He'll be out in about 18 months, possibly sooner.

C'est la vie. Lesson: don't hurl fire extinquishers off buildings you've broken into. It's a crime.

Serves him right.
Might give some of the other hooligans a reality check too.

"And you have no idea what my background is or what I've seen."

That works both ways, so I will repeat that the comment "With attitudes like yours, it's no wonder no one has any sense of societal or personal responsibility." was very, very unnecessary.

I was talking about a hypothetical situation.

You have absolutely no knowledge of how I operate in real life and what I teach my children. And for that matter, you have no knowledge of how that mother has brought her son up either. I'll state categorically that my parenting certainly does not instill a lack of 'societal or personal responsibility.'

As you were.

Having just attended INSET training at school where a lawyer took us through a whole range of issues concerning students and significant ages in relation to the law, I can emphatically agree that this individual is a man at the age of eighteen. How can he be described as a boy when in every area of his life, he is an adult?

I think the penal system is far too lenient these days to be honest ... I would not disapprove of him being severely beaten with a fire extinguisher first

what the fuck is an "adult child"?

Well, bob, you're the one who said you'd encourage your son to avoid facing justice for his criminal actions. So, shocker! I drew conclusions from your own statement.

and how is it worse than throwing a fucking breeze block off a bridge onto a car doing 70mph ???? do you really think the people in the car are protected?

Exactly, MadameDeathStare!

These threads are helping me to understand why so many of the children in school behave as if nobody else on the planet matters.

actually, when she is an adult, she can never be a child by definition ..... she will be he adult who was your child

Stupid, dangerous and criminal. That's the difference.

you are clearly suffering from concussion .... were you hit by a fire extinguisher (or were you thick in the first place?)

No No No. My mum refers to us as her Babies! of course we are not babies or children. we are adults who once were babies and children. Its' all part of letting go!

Seems like a very long sentence when you compare it to other cases, especially given the guilty plea. Clearly a stupid and dangerous thing to do, but more serious than child abuse or rape? Or look at ex-MP David Chaytor who got 18 months for stealing £22k on expenses - a premeditated and repeated crime and one which he denied and tried to avoid being held to account for right up until the last minute.