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.

No idea myself, it was reported in the local paper and people here were wondering what had happened.

just saw some of the posts near the start and i definately think he will have a couple of nasty accidents in prison as caly said.
probably in the showers concerning his arse. :)

i think the sun had a thing on their site where you could leave your details, like a petition, to get their punishments increased.

i registered my whole family!

Have heard on the radio that sentencing for Webster and French is happening today. Fingers crossed they get appropriate jail terms this time.

His minimum sentence has gone from 6yrs to 8 and hers has stayed the same, I think.

hardly a major difference is it?

2 yrs extra for him and nothing for her.

They both have easily recognisable faces though, so i suppose life once they do get released wont be easy.

depraved animals

God Racers, is that for real? I think I will be writing to my mp again to demand an explanation for that. Unbelievable. Who are these judges that think 8 years is an acceptable punishment for raping a baby? I feel completely sickened.

disgusting. Upping to only 8 years is as insulting as the original sentence

The full story is \link{http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/legal/article752141.ece\here} but be warned it is quite graphic. Lord Phillips seems to think webster will never get parole but I don't have his faith in the parole board. 8 years ffs.

Story on todays MSN news...... \link{http://newsbox.msn.co.uk/article.aspx?as=adimarticle&f=uk_-_olgbtopnews&t=4023&id=2972646&d=20060608&do=newsbox.msn.co.uk&i=newsbox.msn.co.uk/mediaexportlive&ks=0&mc=5&ml=ma&lc=en&ae=windows-1252\here}

Sorry I thought it read differently and that he got more than 8...that will teach me for skimming!

are the courts taking the piss!!! 8yrs!!! i just hope that someone recognises them when they get out

I almost cried when I heard this....8 yrs FFS.

2 extra yrs, it's a f*cking insult. That poor baby will, I hope never remember what happened but it will always be there for her parents.....What an insult to them.

What pisses me off is that someone can be sentenced to 15 yrs+ for fraud or some other crime involving money yet a bastard like this will rape a baby and 8 yrs.
Dh used to work as a prison officer and the said it's hardly likely he'll serve the entire sentence anyway.

I feel ashamed of our country at times like this.

:( What is this country coming to? My neighbours were sentanced to nearly 7 years for GBH yet a tiny baby get raped and he gets 6 years increased to 8 :(

I know that I shouldn't become involved anymore, but sadly I just watched the news.

Someone please tell me where the justice is. This is just a rant ok.

I was seriously hoping that by everyone on here & the media campaign, might make a difference.

ARFY, I need you now. You started this and you are so much more eloquent & articulate than I.

It has made a difference, so I guess I should focus on that right now. At least THEY looked at the case from public interference.

But I think that we need to start a public campaign for 'minumum sentences'

I mean, there are 45,000 mumsnetters and if everyone of them passed this message on, it would have been pretty strong. Pretty much the whole of the UK if everyone sent it to everyone in their mailbox.

From zephyrcat's link:

I'm here

I don't really know what to make of it all TBH. Yes it's very unlikely he will go on parole after the 8 years, but it's the principle of it all - I just can't understand what the point of giving a life sentence is in this case. And paedohphilia is hard because it's not like fraud or armed robbery - he is so very, very likely to do it again, and spond the time in prison brooding on it, and probably developing a sense of persucution and self-righteousness in the face of the treatement I'm sure he's getting inside.

I'm at a bit of a loss really. I don't honestly know if anything more can be done.

Sorry, Callisto's link.

The sentence is life.

I don't think he'll be released though, at least I bloody well hope not.
Well pointed out by JanH there

I can't understand how financial fraudsters get years and years and this gets such a light sentence. Money = more than children, I sadly s'pose.

Arfy, wot d'you reckon, we should stage a peaceful protest towards min sentences or just forget about it? If you chose the latter I am inclined to agree because of RL etc, but something is nagging me.......

On the news last night they said it was reduced from 24 yrs to 12 yrs (then again to 8 but I can't remeber why) because he had pleaded guilty.

The reason he pleaded guilty was because he had too. He had taken photos of himself raping the baby so there was no way he could plead not guilty.

Ok the judge said he is unlikey to ever be released. But they'll give him a pat on the back for being so honest in pleading guilty.

It's a f*cking joke.

Yes only getting 8 years because he pleaded guilty. He was telling the police he was innocent until the pictures proved otherwise. This law is wrong - there should be a proviso on whether someone immediately admits to guilt or only does so because of incontovertable evidence.

I am utterly disgusted by the whole thing and I am writing to my mp (clifton-brown) again to ask him what plans there are to change this law so that we can guarantee webster and others like him can never harm anyone again. Will let you know how I get on.

UCM if you feel strongly enough to want to do something then do it.