Man walks free from court after statutory rape

[AssassinatedBeauty]

Saw this news case today, and am not sure what I think:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-39305042

I feel that it gives the message that it's ok for men not to worry about the age of girls/women they have sex with if they have reasonable grounds to believe they're 16+.

"I think if there is in operation, a unit going around looking for young teenagers then it should be required that if age cannot be proved, then no assumptions should be made."

Yes

Loving your posts pooch.

I'm getting hammered on the other thread. What hope is there if women MOTHERS are excusing this?!

Thanks graph - I haven't seen the other thread, not sure if my blood pressure can take it today. Might gird my loins and take a peek later.

Loving your posts pooch.

Me too.

Steel yourself first, some of the opinions

And Amy too.

I looked just like you at 12. I was on the cusp of being a teenager, shy, self conscious and wasn't anything like my 16 and 17 year old sisters (no way!).

Happy Birthday

Please update us on what your dad has said.

I still can't get my head round the fact that we punish shopkeepers selling alcohol to under 18s more severely than we punish men who stick their cocks into 12 year olds. What's the point of having a strict liability offence (which is entirely the right law to have in this instance) if we don't bloody well apply it.

And totally agree with the "well the police would say that, wouldn't they?" sentiment. They totally dropped the ball - they actually found the underage girl whose absence had been reported, talked to her, didn't realise it was her. Of course they're engaged in a massive arse-covering exercise.

I suspect there's an issue of funding as always, Graphista. In a sane, sensible world with properly funded social services, police should be able to ask teenagers for ID - out in the wee small hours, no ID to show you're over 16 - then off to emergency social care overnight with you, and home to your parents the next morning with social services kicking arse if it transpires the parents don't give a shit.

I would advise not to go on the other thread. Thankfully there was a link to this one. But I was horrified by some of the postings last night. I was tired and emotional (moving home is such a stressful experience), that I didn't have the energy for combat.

Why should I feel like I'm in combat? Why should anyone feel like this?

Happy Birthday, Amy, btw!

I hope this case is reviewed and the police, parents and more importantly the guy that had sex with a 13 year old are properly hauled over the coals. Victim blaming at its finest as far as I'm concerned.

I don't think it's victim blaming to say the girl agreed to have sex with this guy and lied about her age. He was a teenager having sex with, what he thought, was another teenager.

Girls are taught to be independent, strong women who have a right to do what they want with their bodies from a young age.

This girl made a choice but apparently now it's the man in this situation's fault that she made the wrong choice.

I realise that legally this was rape because she was 12 and that it is wrong that a 19 yr old had sex with a 12 yr old. The man did plead guilty so recognised he had broken the law.

A massive issue for me is the fact that it is now totally acceptable for people to have one night stands and sleep with people they find at taxi ranks. If this wasn't considered normal in society this incident would have had less chance for happening.

I know this post won't be popular but I don't think it's as simple as saying the 19 yr old should have the book thrown at him.

Cross post with you FreedomMummy and I do agree with totally with what you say despite our opposing victim blaming comments.

Girls are taught to be independent, strong women who have a right to do what they want with their bodies from a young age.

I taught my two dds to be independent and strong, but I certainly didn't go into the what they want to do with their own bodies from an early age.

Sorry random with crept in.

"Girls are taught to be independent, strong women who have a right to do what they want with their bodies from a young age."

She was 12. What she thinks about herself ("I'm a grown up now") is not the basis on which other people - adults - should treat her. The onus is on adults to treat children correctly. Always on the adults. Never on the children to behave in such a way that the adults don't take advantage of them.

At least, that's the way round it should be in a civilized society, and that's why we have strict liability for this offence - that "reasonable belief" is beside the point when the child is under 13 years old.

M0stlyBowlingHedgehog - the victim was not the same 12 year old that had been reported missing.

I don't really understand what you mean about it being an arse-covering exercise. The point is that, at the time, the officers didn't think she was too young to be out, or they'd have sent her home. That isn't covering their arses, it's admitting they made a mistake.

As I've said on the other thread (where it's now at the point beyond victim blaming but suggesting the victim be CRIMINALISED )

I strongly suspect this is a child who has already been very neglected/abused and may possibly be already in the care system.

Those who don't think a 12 year old could pass as 16 should look at some of my DS year 6's cohort (who are 10 and 11) Instagram! they could easily pass as 16

At 19, if on a pissed night out I met drunk teenagers in a taxi rank at 4am, I would have presumed they were at least 16.

8pm in the local park would have been a different story.

I hope the girl has a more vigilant and caring homelife now.

Apologies and will ask for that post up be removed.

Graphista I was thinking the same. No need for apologies. This case is quite the eye opener when it comes to some peoples attitudes to rape.

What I meant was I believe this is clearly a massively vulnerable child with the adults who are meant to be protecting her not doing so.

The facts are clear. Legally she is not only underage she was far too young to consent.

I believe she has long been a victim of neglect/abuse and may possibly already be the care system.

they could easily pass as 16

Disgusting viewpoint. It's shocking that some people look at 10 and 11 year old girls and think they could 'pass' for someone older.

I don't want any other victims of rape/abuse reading that and thinking they are AT ALL to blame.

As well as deeply worrying attitudes to underage sex/rape/abuse I think many sadly cannot comprehend properly what it is like to have an abusive/neglectful home life.

Most luckily don't but far too many children do.

Both my daughters who are in their 20s have to bring ID to a supermarket if they want to buy drink. They are always asked for it.

My son will be 27 this year and always carries ID as he still occasionally gets asked.

This man picked up a drunk 12-year-old at taxi rank at four in the morning. He ALREADY KNEW she had lied about her age at least once that night.