Teenager has university place withdrawn due to spent conviction

[melpomene]

Story here

I feel sorry for him. He must have been 15 or 16 when he committed the offence and it sounds as if it was an insolated offence and he got himself back on track.

serves him right

I feel sorry for him too. he's trying to make the best of himself now. We all make mistakes.....

Vanessa Feltz had a phone-in about this today on BBC London. I was surprised how hardline some of the callers were, that he shouldn't be allowed to become a doctor. She also spoke to the boy in question on the phone. It sounds like he was persuaded to enter this house, thinking it belonged to a friend, sat down and was busted by the police - he didn't actually steal anything. It's sad - he grew up in a really deprived area and has worked so hard to make something
of himself. I hope another medical school will offer him a place.

hmm i htink burglary though....

It does seem harsh - presumably it would have been pretty easy for him to lie about it - wonder whether Imperial go to the trouble of cross-checking every application? Seems unlikely.

He got himself back on track, volunteered, got great A Levels, was honest... and he still gets turned down. What sort of message does that send to other kids trying to re-focus on something more constructive than petty crime?

that si MAJOR dishonesty isnt it
not just like shoplifting

the message is clear, don't do it in the first place.

it's a good deterrent imo

Poor Bastard. Could set him back. Typical of people to think he deserved it. Would you hope for that for your own children?

it slike in court the other day
no train ticket
criminla conviction

5 eyars
no travel to the states

I suppose your reaction will depend in part on whether you think criminals are bred in the bone, or whether you think that background (by his own account he grew up in a very rough area) can be a mitigating factor.

With SEA on this.

From bitter experience southeast, I know that what will happen in the future does not cross your mind when you are about to 'break the law'

burlary isnt like just nickeing a spade out of a shed
its like being in your home !

SEA - the message also is, if you've been convicted once, you needn't bother trying to turn your life around.

yes but do you not htink doctors are a different case maybe

imagine the daily mail" docotr was convicted bruglar"

No, I think if he was going to be copper it would matter. But not a doctor.

Spent convictions are SPENT though. In most cases, they are ignored in peoples criminal record / record checks, unless they're deemed a risk iyswim

This is appalling beyond belief: kid does wrong, is caught, is sentenced, law says sentence now spent, kid gets back on track, great exam results, wants to do a worthwhile job and then SMACK... it beggars belief that anyone can justify this decision.

But you have to fess up to them no matter how long ago they were.

If your son or daughter got themselves into trouble at 15, but then worked hard to move on after their conviction was spent, how would you feel if their education was then under threat?

c'mon people. It could happen to you. The darling children you may think you are bringing up to be wonderful people may make bad choices or do bad things. Surely you wouldn't expect things they have done when young to be held against them for the rest of your life.

what abotu sex offences not being spent
what if he ahd slept wiht an underage girl at 15?

Have you met many medical students cod? They're not models of probity IME You'd have a very difficult time demonstrating that the average medical student is marvellously ethical, I think. It would be a great deal easier to demonstrate that the average medical student comes from an extremely comfortable background.

I don't think an adolescent crime-spree necessarily indicates someone who will grow up to be thoroughly dishonest.

Yes, but it is only in certain circumstances that they are taken into consideration when they are spent.

no but htey grow up into osme of the most trustable membes fo cosciety
look at "lost"(

the issue is that medical school is highly sought after, so when you have 9 people chasing every place all with impeccable A'Levels (minimum A*s across the board) and impressive CVs you need to ensure you are offering to the ideal candidate .. someone with a criminal conviction is not the ideal candidate