12 week old baby - protest to the Attorney General about leniency of the sentence

[georginars]

Ok, I have just been listening to LBC and they had a guest on from Phoenix Survivors Trust who was herself prostituted, with her sisters, from babyhood. Her name is Shy Keenan.

Obviously we're all appalled by this crime, but we should also be appalled by the leniency of the sentent. Apparently, if anyone objects to a sentence handed down, we can raise our objections to the Attorney General and the volume of complaints will be taken into account. The lady siad that they have already had some sentencs increased so it's got to be a worth a go, hasn't it!

I don't think you can email the AG, but here are his contact details:

ATTORNEY GENERAL
The Rt Hon Lord Goldsmith QC

ADDRESS
Attorney General?s Chambers
9 Buckingham Gate
London
SW1E 6JP
Tel: 020 7271 2400
FAX: 020 7271 2454

You need to give the details of the case in your letter. these are (and I apologise for naming these 'people', but it's in a good cause)
Alan Webster - sentenced to life, with a recommendation to serve a minimum of 12 years - and can apply for parole after 6 years.
Tanya French - sentenced to 5 years.
The case was heard at St Albans Crown Court and the judge was Findlay Baker QC.

So, shall we give it a go? I'm going to be doing it as it seems to be something concrete we can do. I'm not generally much of a crusader and I don't speak out much, but I thought I should bring this to your attention as I didn't know how many people would head the radio.

I have emailed Lord Goldsmith and also my MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown. I am not sure if he will take the matter up but hopefully one of our MPs will. Anyone in Diane Abbots constituency? Don't like her much but this sounds like her kind of thing. Also can we get any papers involved? If we all shout loudly enough over this then hopefully the whole sentencing system for sex offenders will get looked at?! (Ever idealistic!!).

By the way, all appeals have to be lodged within 28 days of sentence being handed out.

We are writing to protest at the recent sentencing of the offener who raped a 12 week old baby. The possibility that he be freed in 6 - 12 years is galling to say the least, especially as he is a multiple offender. The poor baby affected will only be a teenager when he is released: that age is likely to be a highly emotive one for this particular child after what has happened, it does not need to be further compounded by dealing with the release of this individual.

Please take the concerns of ourselvesf and others seriously and review the case immediately.

hope that was OK? Will e-mail others too.

i phone them up. the lady i spoke to says that they have had a phenomenal amount of complaints about this. 45 in total.
i am shocked that only 45 complained. but she said that for them it is a huge number. thank you georginars. if you hadnt started this thread, i would not have got round to complaining officially.
the woman asked me to send an email in to get a reply back. apparently it takes about 20 days usually.

Emailed jsut sent off

I thank you too georginars.

Have sent my email and hope many other NNers do likewise.

This is the first time I have ever got off my backside and done something like this, it is just a shame it had be in rlation to something so horrible iyswim.

Hope the evening crew see this and jam the Attorney General's computer!

FAO: The Rt Hon Lord Goldsmith QC

Dear Lord Goldsmith,

I am proud to live in a democartic society and admire the many strengths of our justice system, such as the upholding of the freedom of the individual. One recent case has, however, made me wish to pack my bags and flee the country, believing that the very basic blocks on whiuch our society has been built are collapsing.

I refer to the case of Crown v Alan Webster and Tanya French, case heard at St Albans Crown Court, judge Findlay Barker QC.

I object strongly to the lenient sentences given to Mr Alan Webster and Ms Tanya French because the acts performed upon a 12 week old baby can surely not be exceeded for their appalling lack of regard for the human condition. The fact that these acts were pre-meditated, repeated and photographed merits punishment of the highest order and I am furious to think that Mr Webster could possibly be free in six years' time.

I appeal to you to review these sentences as quickly as possible. Following as it does the two recent highlighted cases of child abduction in Newcasle and Cardiff , this case has caused many parents to wonder what real protection their children have in our society.
You are in the fortunate position to act on this. Please use your influence to the greater good, for the future of all our children and for our once-good society. Please help us to feel that it is worth living in the UK and making an effort to raise loving, well cared-for children.

(Thank you georginars for giving us the spur to do this).

rhubarb,
thankyou for what you wrote i have copied it and emailed it off. im not very good at wording these sorts of things, might get too heated! so thanks again, i hope others will follow suit.

I will write. Rhubarb, I think your letter/email was fantastic. I might use it as I am very bad with words. I'm going to encourage friends to email also

have emailed them too.

Just sent mine. Great idea Georginars, I wouldn't have actually done anything about this if I hadn't seen this thread. Just gossiped about it to friends & family. I truthfully hope something gets done about it. Also emailing everyone in my inbox.

Have just recieved this response:

'Thank you for your email sent to the Attorney General's Chambers, about the
unduly lenient sentencing of Alan Webster and Tanya French.

Our usual aim is to respond within twenty working days if at all possible
(sooner if we can). If we are unable to meet this target, we will tell you
so, and explain why.

Thank you for writing on this important issue.

Yours sincerely

Tim Strevens
Correspondence Unit
Attorney General's Chambers'

I have also e-mailed.
Like Enid, I foolishly thought that 'life' was a 'good' sentence. Didn't realise that he could be out in as little as 6 years. It beggars belief, it really does.

I had the same e-mail. It had a different subject line to the one I used, which is great as it means they at least scanned it and identified the reason ofr e-mail.

'about the unduly lenient' also sounds positive too- let's hope!!

Have e-mailed to my friends too.

I think that forwarding initial post including email addy to everyone in your mailbox is a very very good idea. I have done it and urged people I know to both write and forward on. I can't think of anyone I know who won't, I just hope that every Mumsnetter does the same. They will end up with thousands of complaints.

Georginars, I am so impressed by being able to do something I have started a new thread IMPORTANT Calling all Mumsnetters and putting a link to this thread, just so every MN reads your thread. Thank you for starting this. It has haunted me for days.

SENT EMAIL

hi everyone, glad we're all doing this. and thanks for all links and bumping etc. I just thought we could actually do something concrete here rather than wringing our hands and wishing we could exact the painful revenge they deserve. The only sensible & logical way we can protest against this is through the legal system, and as that system should answer to us, we should make use of everything available. I'm so glad I heard Shy Keenan on the radio, because like all of you, I wasn't really aware that we could complain in this way.

Yes, I forgot to say that the appeals need to be lodged within 28 days - very inmportant. Well done for phoning Stich, I'm so glad to hear people are responding.

Can I just make sure we all have exactly the correct facts - the man's sentence is life, but with a recommendation that he serve at least 12 years - it's not a 12 year sentence (or a 6 year sentence). her's is however, 5 years in a young offender's institution.

oh I can't believe I used an apostrophe wrongly - serves me right for tutting when other people do it!

I'm glad that I cam across this, I've e-mailed too, this is what I sent,
Dear Sir/ Madam

I am writing to express my concern at the lenient sentences handed down to Alan Webster and Tanya French at St Albans Crown Court. I find it dificult to believe that crimes of such a serious nature as these can result in the offender who already has a record of these offences being released in a little as six years. The innocent baby in these crimes will still not be of an age to understand what has happened to her, yet she will always live in the knowledge that her attackers are walking free, a luxury the victims of these crimes will probably never enjoy.

I hope that this matter is treated with the attention and seriousness that it merits,

Have just emailed AG and plan to contact my MP. I work in child protection and the sentences perpetrators receive (if we ever get them to court) never cease to amaze me.

Have just emailed AG and plan to contact my MP. I work in child protection and the sentences perpetrators receive (if we ever get them to court) never cease to amaze me.

Just had a standard email back - looks like they may be getting inundated with objections!

Done!