Rapists jailed for just 40 months after judge says 11-year-old victim was 'willing'

[KRITIQ]

story here.

"Judge David Farrell QC jailed them both for just 40 months each as he accepted the claim that she was willing and looked "at least" 14."

Funny, but I thought 14 was still under the age of consent for sex with a 21 year old man, quite apart from the fact that how a girl or woman "looks" should NEVER be a justification for rape, full stop.

I despair.

that's good they are getting responses need to keep the pressure up.

interesting

This is the draft of the email I sent to my MP
The original was on a thread in the Chat forum, I made some changes before sending mine, as the MPs' message service says it recognises multiple mailings of the same email & blocks them

To find your MP, go to www.writetothem.com/ & enter your postcode

^Dear

You may be aware of recent press coverage regarding the child rape case which has recently been sentenced in Luton by Judge David Farrell (If not, here is a link)

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2104287/Child-rapists-jailed-just-40-months--judge-said-11-year-old-victim-willing.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

In short, two 21 year old men have been sentenced to only 40 months'
imprisonment for raping an 11 year old girl. Judge Farrell said there were mitigating factors because the girl looked 14 and did not appear to complain. He accepted the defendents' claim that she was a "willing participant".

I think that this is abhorrent. She was 11 and the 2 men concerned should have a sentence which reflects the fact that they raped a child who by law CANNOT consent and so cannot be "willing". Thus whether or not she protested is utterly immaterial given that she could have been in shock or not understanding what was happening.

I recognise that the case was sentenced outside this constituency but nonetheless I would respectfully ask that you raise the matter with the Justice Minister and/or the attorney general requesting that these sentences be reviewed. The judge's comments are disgraceful and ill-thought-out and will only serve to give those who rape and exploit children a mitigation and defence for their actions. I hope that you will ask that the judge be reprimanded and asked to apologise for his soft sentencing of these two men.

Please speak up on behalf of a child who has been failed by the law.

Thank you,

Yours sincerely,^

Thanks, I will adapt I'm just rubbish at getting started

Thank you for that, timtam and BUMP for good measure .....

That judge really is quite something. Just when you think you've heard it all...

By way of update, I just received this email:

Thank you for your email of 27 February to the Attorney General?s Office in relation to the sentence given to Roshane Channer and Ruben Monteiro.
As you may know, the Law Officers (the Attorney General and Solicitor General) have the power, under section 36 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988, to refer to the Court of Appeal a sentence passed in the Crown Court for review which appears to them to be an unduly lenient sentence. This power only applies to sentences imposed for certain serious offences.
Having carefully reviewed this case, the Solicitor General has decided to refer the sentences imposed on Channer and Monteiro to the Court of Appeal for review. The case will in due course be heard by three Court of Appeal judges who will decide whether or not to increase the sentences.
Thank you for writing to us about this important matter.
Yours sincerely
James Ross
Correspondence Unit

Just coming on to post my email - it's exactly the same as KRITIQ's bar the date. Will keep my eyes open for the outcome of the review.

I have not read the whole thread. Very pleased that the sentence will be looked at.

Just more evidence that (part of) the judiciary is totally out of touch (and does not even seem to understand the Law).

What "kind" of girl was this? A girl from a poor family? A non-Caucasian girl?

What kind of outrage would there be for a rich white girl from a "good" family...

Or, cheerful yank, as has already been mentioned, if it was an eleven year old boy.
I actually feel physically sick having read through this.
Do I seriously have to let my dd out into a world that contains such utter contemptible examples of men, and that goes for the judge as well as the rapists.
I tried making a complaint on the basis of the language used in Judge Farells summary but the link on the justice website is not working. I will try again tomorrow. I also signed the petition.
Was the sentence not meant to be reviewed on the ninth?

Rapists have sentences doubled

"Two men who raped an 11-year-old girl in Luton have had their "unduly lenient" sentences more than doubled.

Roshane Channer and Ruben Monteiro, both 21, were originally jailed at Luton Crown Court for three years and four months for the July 2011 rape.

The sentences were changed to seven years by three Court of Appeal judges who agreed with the attorney general they were too lenient."

Result.

Excellent news

It's still not enough!! They should have 15 or 20 at least IMO (and serve the lot). But thank goodness something was done

Well, it is an improvement but it still isn't close to long enough.

It sickens me how expendable women and especially children are under UK law - rape them, torture them, kill them - and a sentence of a few years .

The Attorney General, Dominic Grieve QC said he was "pleased that the Court of Appeal had given clear guidance in respect of sentencing these kinds of sexual offences. "

" The law is clear that children under the age of 13 are incapable of giving consent to sexual activity," he said. "

depressing beyond words

Bloody hell, I've just seen this. Sentences doubled but still pathetic. Any comment on the attitude, its ok, she looked 14, was willing, here have a slapped wrist?