at the risk of sounding a bit Daily Mail-ish, I really don't think the sentences for this appalling attack on a young women with special needs are long enough...

[edam]

WARNING this is distressing Saw previous coverage of the trial - I'm amazed the rapists have only got six to nine years.

Seems to be this is about as serious a crime as you can get, short of murder. So why are the sentences less than the ones I see reported for armed robbery, for instance? Do we value victims of violence less than cold hard cash?

Just hope the poor girl somehow finds a way to live a happy life despite her injuries and trauma.

I have just heard this on the news - they said 21/2 to 4 years.

I am so shocked and upset - they should have got 10 years at least.

That poor, poor little soul. It is dreadful.

They are scum.

my god yes, I just heard this on the radio, they will only serve 4 ish years because of time on remand- and they and their supporters were sniggering in court. You don't sound at all Daily Mail ish. Can't help thinking that her learning difficulties played a part in the sentencing....if she had been pretty white mc girl destined for university would sentences have been longer?
Hope somebody will come and tell me I'm wrong about that.

I expect this is more about prison overcrowding.

OMG lentileater - do you think so? I didn't think of that. If that is the case then that is even worse.

I totally agree. Awful attack.

That is horrendously low, especially when you consider it was cold, calculated and could have resorted in the girl's death.

These men should have been given life. Their sentences should be long enough to make it impossible for them to enjoy their youth.

don't kinow enough about the legal system tis just my awful suspicion

And, based on personal experience, you can bet that those men got legal aid, barrister etc, and the poor girl and her family probably got nothing.

god how appalling. how can young men be so evil?

I use to work within the Criminal Justice system and think they should have got significantly longer sentences. IME, those who seek out and target vulnerable victims would get harsher sentences. The judges at the court I was involved with certainly took that into accoutn when sentencing as it makes the crime more insidious (spelling?).

I think we have seen on here recently how some veiw disabled people, so tbh, I'm not surprised although horrified.

Do you think we should start a mumsnet petition, I have no idea how you go about it though. Prehaps we could petition the home sectery to intervene and double the length of sentence.

Is there anyone with good literacy skills who could set up a petition on the No. 10 Downing Street Website?

petitions.number10.gov.uk/

I would set up a petition, but I know that ablity to write, good persausive English is weak. Is there anyone who is more talented at writing than me?

The kids who murdered Jamie Bulger got their sentences lengthened after a petition organised by the Sun.

Actually, due to her mental age I think they should have been sentanced as if they HAD gang raped a 9 yr old.

Average custodial sentence for rape at the moment (or for the most recent year for which data is available) is seven years. So while these sentences may be too short they are at least in line with the general sentencing pattern and the victim's learning difficulties probably didn't play a part in reducing the sentence length.

I have a 10 year old dd, and I am in tears for that poor girl. What is this country coming to? And I know that sounds daily mailish, but I make no apology. (and I hate the DM).

I live in N.London. I know exactly what sort of people these young men are. They have no morals, no empathy, they will think it is a big joke that has added to their staus and street cred. and a short prison sentence will mean nothing to them.

STATUS.

They should have got life behind bars, no parole. Evil, sick scum.

Thanks for the link, Dittany. If it's in line with sentencing for rape (not severe enough IMO), I guess the case for this being unduly lenient would be that the sentences didn't take account of the aggravating factor of attacking a vulnerable young woman with SN?

Sounds like the judge did appreciate the appalling nature of this crime but the sentences just don't reflect that IMO, presumably because he was following sentencing guidelines.

Lentileater, I wondered about discrimination against people with LDs too. But seems more as if it's unintentional, i.e. failure to take account of the victim's vulnerability, rather than direct 'people with LDs don't matter'.

Oh, VERY good point, fact that it's a gang attack surely should be another aggravating factor?

OMG I thought they had got life.

DId they plead guilty? If so there is an automatic 1/3 off any sentence.