I can't believe this attitude still exists amongst the judiciary these days

[Freckle]

Having been a lawyer in the past and still involved in the judicial system now, I sometimes despair at the pronouncements of some judges.

How dare a judge say that the rape of a 10 yo girl warrants a lesser sentence "because she looks older than her age". Or, because she was dressed provocatively, it was her fault.

See here.

How long a sentence do you think he would have given if it had been his 10 yo daughter or granddaughter who had been raped?? I am totally outraged by this.

Actually even if she'd looked or been 30, rape is rape.

But it wasnt rape as in being pinned to floor, saying no sort of thing. According to court she consented, so if she had been 30 it wouldnt have been rape. Its rape because she is 10 and laws state (and I agree) 10,11,and 12 year olds (any one younger also) cannot consent. If she had been 15 it wouldnt have been rape either. Which confuses me, why has age of consent of 16? But thats another topic i guess.

It just tells you what these judges feel about women doesn't it? The 'asking for it' attitude and the belief that if you are female you are the property/toy of anything with a penis. Makes me so mad. It is misogyny, pure and simple.

And fwiw, I really worry about some of these judges attitudes towards sex crimes against children. If they really feel this way - that a 10yr old can be 'provocative', or a child is 'not really harmed by it' or any number of the really scary comments i have read over the years - then I have to say they sound rather like paedophiles themselves.

If a girl aged 13-16 has consensual sex it becomes sexual activity with a child rather than rape.
The law is very confusing around this area.

If she's been 15 he would've been breaking the law by having sex with her. He might not have 'pinned her to the floor' but it sounds as though he - to use a current phrase - 'groomed her for sex'. Sweet-talked her.

If he'd gone up to an adult woman in the park and said 'Hello darlin', how about it?' what are the chances of getting 'Yes' as a reply, rather than 'F-off you loser'? My point is that he picked her because he knew she was young/vulnerable and he talked her into it. He knew what he was doing. She was a victim.

Explains why the conviction rate for rape is so low. Judges clearly don't realise that misogyny exists and they are perpetrators of it. Bet he believes all women are either asking for it or frigid, even at 10 years old.

NB 'sexual activity with a child' is still an ofence it replcces ' unlawful sexual intercourse' .