Skip to main content
Skip to main navigation
Skip to talk navigation

Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Saved Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Flip

MNHQ have commented on this thread

1 2 3 4 5 6

MNHQ have commented on this thread

Petitions and activism

Low sentence for Eton student Title edited by MNHQ

130 replies

winkywinkola · 28/02/2016 12:26

I was utterly amazed to read how this man has got away with such disturbing behaviour. Unbelievable.

Apparently the judge found the images so disgusting he couldn't bring himself to deliver justice describe them. Wtf? Really? Why?

However, I've discovered there is a petition going around requesting a review of this sentence.]]

OP posts:

Report

Tate15 · 28/02/2016 19:21

Thank you catnuzzle, I was confused about the making of an image part!

winkywinkola · 28/02/2016 19:28

"A young and able man with hopes for the future"

Said the defence. Like that's a defence? What if he'd been on the dole, a loser, a no hoper?

I think you're very very naive if you think people don't pull strings, call in favours and as a result get a different result in court.

OP posts:

coffeeinaredmug · 28/02/2016 19:29

Just the act of downloading an image is classed as 'making' an image.

winkywinkola · 28/02/2016 19:30

And it matters that he's at Eton. Of course it does.

His parents have paid £££££s to get him educated, he will be mixing with future elites (look at the current cabinet) and is someone who could well be of great influence in the future.

Because that's how it is in this country.

OP posts:

winkywinkola · 28/02/2016 19:44

And we live in a country where decent justice isn't available for all given the cuts to legal aid.

Chip on shoulder? I don't think so. Just totally realistic as to how things work.

OP posts:

Ubik1 · 28/02/2016 19:51

Do you think people who are given every advantage in life should be held to s higher standard than ordinary folk? Or someone who has never had a chance at a decent life?

I really don't know.

PortobelloRoad · 28/02/2016 21:34

he will be mixing with future elites

Yeah, a handful, maybe. I know people who've gone to Eton, they do all sorts of things with their futures. Eton is not some fairy castle mystical place, it's a school, not dissimilar to the one my kids go to or hundreds of others, stop buying the hype.

Also, do you really think he has many school mates left after this? Not fucking likely. The boy I mentioned who drank and drove at my kids school was cut out immediately, I cant imagine the reaction to this kind of thing. Or do you think just because people are privately educated that they gloss over such monstrous crimes? Probably. Get a grip.

The sentences for comparable crimes where the perpetrator is from a normal background show that this guy has been given a normal sentence for these kinds of things. But just ignore that and carry on with your crusade.

7Days · 28/02/2016 21:48

You don't even need to call in favours. They could mix in the same circles and 'know' each other vaguely. One of us, give him a chance.
Works on all levels of society. Kid puts ball through your window, you are furious until you find you know her mother. A good kid, a good family, take the.more gentle option . Plus the dad is department supervisor at my sister's work, don't make waves.
Happens everywhere. Perhaps not this exact case. But not ridiculous to consider, even expect a dynamic like that.

TealLove · 28/02/2016 21:53

I don't think he'll be keeping in touch with many schoolmates after this either. Having money will soften the blow somewhat and he'll be able to work still due to connections I suspect.

PortobelloRoad · 28/02/2016 22:01

I wouldn't exactly equate this to a kid putting a ball through a window. He'll be a complete social pariah, this is a child centric sex crime. "One of us" has long gone out the window here. Be serious. Of course people get "let off" stuff because they know people, but not stuff like this.

It wouldn't be worth any serious person hiring him. Why would they want a known pedophile on staff? They wouldn't. People really, really over egg all this "they have connections" stuff. "Connections" does not mean a job for even a normal kid, let alone someone who has done this.

Google lives forever, it would be a PR nightmare for anyone, even if he was roomies at Eton with his dad or whatever, to hire this person.

SueLawleyandNicholasWitchell · 28/02/2016 22:04

He can change his name, bleach his hair. Work somewhere that doesn't require a DBS check.

PortobelloRoad · 28/02/2016 22:07

Yes, but who is going to hire him? If he does all that it wont be through his family contacts will it, they'll know who he is, and most people would not knowingly hire a peodophile, no matter whos child they are.

7Days · 28/02/2016 22:14

No matter what the crime, the person in authority has th e choice to go hard or go easy. Of course the bias, even if it is unconscious, even if the person guards against it, is to go easy on your own. It seems self evident to me, it happens everywhere

jeremyisahunt · 28/02/2016 22:18

I really hope he gets his comeuppance

And I'm usually the last person to say that

AugustaFinkNottle · 28/02/2016 22:34

Ilive, the examples you have given are obviously not of single parents charged with the same offence being sentenced more harshly.

"A young and able man with hopes for the future"

Said the defence. Like that's a defence? What if he'd been on the dole, a loser, a no hoper?

No, it isn't a defence and wasn't put forward as a defence, OP. It was put forward as a mitigating factor in relation to sentence. It's perfectly reasonable to put before the judge all the factors they should take into account, including the effect of a sentence on the accused's future and whether they stand a good chance of rehabilitation. It happens every day in every court.

I think you're very very naive if you think people don't pull strings, call in favours and as a result get a different result in court.

I don't think anyone says that. But what those who know about the situation do say, with reason, is that there is no evidence that that is what has happened in this case, because the sentence is precisely in accordance with sentencing guidelines and in line with sentences imposed on others for similar offences.

He can change his name, bleach his hair. Work somewhere that doesn't require a DBS check.

Is that necessarily a bad thing? Of necessity, if you work somewhere that doesn't require a DBS check, that means you are not going to be in contact with children and vulnerable people. Isn't it better that someone like this should be rehabilitated and become a useful, taxpaying member of society than that he should be prevented from working altogether? On any interpretation, this young man is going to have his life chances massively limited. Bear in mind that he won't get any school reference, no-one else is likely to give him a reference or pull strings for him, he is highly unlikely to get into university, and won't have a solid work history record to present to future employers. And because of his background, everyone in his stratum of society will remember what has happened forever.

PortobelloRoad · 28/02/2016 22:55

Of course the bias, even if it is unconscious, even if the person guards against it, is to go easy on your own.

So if someone you knew did something like this you would go easier on them?? Even something this heinous?

Ok

PortobelloRoad · 28/02/2016 23:00

On any interpretation, this young man is going to have his life chances massively limited. Bear in mind that he won't get any school reference, no-one else is likely to give him a reference or pull strings for him, he is highly unlikely to get into university, and won't have a solid work history record to present to future employers. And because of his background, everyone in his stratum of society will remember what has happened forever.

Yes, quite. But you will shortly be told that no, because he went to the magical and mystical Eton that he will still end up being the chancellor or a top Barrister or whatever because according to this lot, having a rich dad and having gone to a nice school will delete you having been a registered sex offender and pedophile , and that nobody will care. Wtf...

TealLove · 28/02/2016 23:03

I think his Dad would be able to put him to work in his office for example. Pay him a wage. Then if there are no more incidents his life will slowly progress from there and people in his circles will stop talking about it anymore. That's what usually happens. He may get a Partner and get married and this may be seen as a moment of madness. I think that's v likely.
Eaton will wash their hands and so will many of his friends for now. But I've seen many threads on here about relatives being convicted for these offenses and family have positively welcomed them back.

SueLawleyandNicholasWitchell · 28/02/2016 23:12

this young man is going to have his life chances massively limited

Aaaah. Poor man. Are you his mum?

winkywinkola · 28/02/2016 23:26

Lol. I don't think signing a petition once is a crusade!

OP posts:

Atenco · 28/02/2016 23:35

this young man is going to have his life chances massively limited

What about the two-year-old whose suffering brought him so much pleasure?

Atenco · 28/02/2016 23:40

To my mind, he is a sadist and I really doubt that is curable.

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Email address

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 28/02/2016 23:50

His picture being published won't matter for long. People forget. Sentence was far too lenient.

AnnaForbes · 28/02/2016 23:53

Signed.

I dont care what his background is. He should be in a prison far away from children. No amount of therapy works on paedophiles, none.

7Days · 28/02/2016 23:53

Can he drop his mum's maiden name and go back to his dad's? Obv I know its not only old etonians who can do that

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.