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Original poster

Can anything be done about this sentence? TW: child abuse

39 replies

IfYouDontAsk · 04/07/2023 16:27

Trigger warning: references to child sexual abuse below.

A man has been given a 12 month suspended sentence by Norwich Magistrates Court for possession of indecent images of children, including 39 that were Category A (the most serious). He’s also admitted a charge of possessing 100 "grossly offensive" extreme pornographic images and videos.

12 month suspended sentence for being in possession of images showing the absolute worst, most depraved abuse of children. Creating a market for these images and therefore contributing to the abuse of these poor children who will most likely be emotionally scarred for the rest of their lives. I am so ANGRY at this pathetic sentence.

‘ Ian Taylor, chair of the bench of magistrates, said: "These offences would normally attract immediate custody
"However, because of the time lag, no reoffending and because probation feel they can rehabilitate you it's going to be an unusual sentence because we're going to suspend the sentence."’

Rehabilitate a 66 year old sex offender?? This isn’t a 17 year old that’s nicked a loaf of bread from the supermarket.
https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/23632228.norwich-trans-woman-sentenced-indecent-images/?ref=rss

I’m aware that members of the public can report unduly lenient Crown Court sentences to the Attorney General for review but as this sentence was handed down by a Magistrates Court is there anything that can be done to put this paedophile in prison where he belongs?

Norwich transwoman spared jail over indecent images following 'unusual' decision

A transwoman from Norwich who admitted having dozens of indecent images of children has been spared jail after magistrates said they took an…

https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/23632228.norwich-trans-woman-sentenced-indecent-images/?ref=rss

OP posts:
Original poster
IfYouDontAsk · 04/07/2023 16:29

@mnhq sorry, in my fury I’ve posted in the wrong topic. I intended for this to go in the general feminism section because for me this is very much a feminist issue- crimes against women and children are sentenced so lightly as to effectively give the perpetrators the green light to abuse. Is it possible to move my thread please?

OP posts:
BorgQueen · 04/07/2023 16:30

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Ostryga · 04/07/2023 16:37

I’ve just been reading this as I live in Norwich with my 6 year old daughter. The fact that a paedophile is allowed to roam the streets because they might get hurt in prison, what the fuck? I am so angry I don’t know what to do with myself.

I’ll write to my MP, and if there’s any other way to get this utterly ridiculous judgement amended more than happy to do that.

Original poster
IfYouDontAsk · 04/07/2023 16:42

Thank you for writing to your MP @Ostryga. It feels so frustrating thT it’s only Crown Court sentences that can be referred to the Attorney General (if I’ve understood correctly).

BorgQueen it also infuriates me that this will presumably be recorded as a crime committed by a woman. But I’m not sure I’d be surprised if this guy got the same sentence even if he presented to court as Joe Bloggs. Sexual abuse against children just doesn’t seem to be sentenced properly. These are among the worst crimes that can happen in a society, I don’t want these people on the streets.

OP posts:
namitynamechange · 04/07/2023 16:50

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I'm not even sure it is just trans teflon in this case. Jail terms of people who "only" view images online aren't as automatic or as long as they should be.

Clymene · 04/07/2023 16:54

Could we do a government petition? Summer recess soon so not sure it would get much traction though.

Thelnebriati · 04/07/2023 17:02

I don't think this can be challenged using the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme, because the case was heard in a Magistrates court and not a Crown court.

Original poster
IfYouDontAsk · 04/07/2023 17:08

Yes, there seems to be a weird view by some that it’s “only” viewing images. To me, it’s no different at all to sitting in the same room and watching the abuse take place. I wish it were automatic life sentences for men who commit these crimes. The utter devastation and misery caused to those poor children; it’s heartbreaking.

OP posts:
LiesDoNotBecomeUs · 04/07/2023 17:22

Yes this person should have had a much longer sentence. 'Just viewing images' means that you are paying for children to be abused on your behalf. (If no-one was willing to pay, these children would not be abused.)

A child-abuse watcher is abusing the child by proxy. I can't see that that is better!

However, it is good to see it reported as the crime of 'a transwomen' rather than 'a woman' though. We need to see the figures for this sort of thing as they really are. It appears that some things are changing.

MrsOvertonsWindow · 04/07/2023 17:22

It is a disgraceful sentence - and sadly yet more evidence that the safety of children is a very low priority to so many in authority - including magistrates & judges.

OldCrone · 04/07/2023 17:24

Why was this case not passed to the crown court? A quick google tells me that the maximum prison sentence that can be handed down by a magistrates' court is 6 months (12 months for more than one offence), but 6 months is the minimum recommended sentence for this offence which can carry a penalty of up to 10 years.

https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/offences/magistrates-court/item/possession-of-indecent-photograph-of-child/

Thelnebriati · 04/07/2023 17:29

Why was this case not passed to the crown court?

A cynic might say 'because of the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme...

ifIwerenotanandroid · 04/07/2023 19:08

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That was the thing that leapt out at me from the article. If the probation service knows how to rehabilitate this type of offender, they need to tell the rest of us how they do it.

TriquetraVisions · 04/07/2023 19:45

‘Howes, who was identified on court documents as female and referred to in court by female pronouns…’🤬

TriquetraVisions · 04/07/2023 19:49

Viewing images is creating demand for those images. IMHO opinion, those viewing the images should be sentenced for as long as those creating them.

Boiledbeetle · 04/07/2023 20:12

Unfortunately images of CSA really do not attract jail time. My old doctor had over 17000 images in all categories and didn't receive jail time so for a couple of hundred I'm surprised this guy even made it to court.

I do think these sorts of cases should automatically be sent to crown court though not magistrates

ACatCalledPushka · 04/07/2023 20:19

Boiledbeetle · 04/07/2023 20:12

Unfortunately images of CSA really do not attract jail time. My old doctor had over 17000 images in all categories and didn't receive jail time so for a couple of hundred I'm surprised this guy even made it to court.

I do think these sorts of cases should automatically be sent to crown court though not magistrates

17,000 and no jail time - wow 🤬

YouJustDoYou · 04/07/2023 20:21

Jesus FUCKING Christ. And yet I bet if he'd commited fraud h'd got a sentence. This country only care about 1/murder, 2/fraud, 3/misgendering.

PurpleBugz · 04/07/2023 20:27

TriquetraVisions · 04/07/2023 19:45

‘Howes, who was identified on court documents as female and referred to in court by female pronouns…’🤬

Ffs

#notourcrimes

Boiledbeetle · 04/07/2023 20:28

PurpleBugz · 04/07/2023 20:27

Ffs

#notourcrimes

Show quote history

I really hope that somehow these can all be split back out of the statistics once sanity prevails

Original poster
IfYouDontAsk · 04/07/2023 20:34

I can only assume that many, many people within the judicial system are also paedophiles. Because how else could these sentences be justified?

OP posts:
TriquetraVisions · 04/07/2023 20:58

Boiledbeetle · 04/07/2023 20:26

Show quote history

OMFG. It’s almost as though male crimes against women and children aren’t really crimes anymore.

littleripper · 04/07/2023 21:04

Eric Joyce too - these FUCKING PERVERTS SHOULD BE IN JAIL

I know a woman currently in jail for shop lifting £57 of food. Yes she was a repeat offender. But stealing food vs watching the rape of a baby??!! WTF has happened to the legal system?

Boiledbeetle · 04/07/2023 21:12

IfYouDontAsk · 04/07/2023 20:34

I can only assume that many, many people within the judicial system are also paedophiles. Because how else could these sentences be justified?

They've got dodgy morals if nothing else.

They seen incapable of equating the child in an image with being an actual living (sometimes now dead) child who will have gone through appalling abuse for that image to have been taken.

Would they be so lax if each child that was photographed was stood in the court watching?