Should the Judge in the teenagers rape case be struck off ?

What I can't understand given the horrendous crimes committed by so called children that the parents weren't charged with the offences too. Just how much responsibility are adukts supposed to have in regard to their offspring. The boys have been returned to their homes, environments supposedly contributing to their actions. Beggars belief!

For Winterwhite, and that ultra-liberal, utterly feeble guff about "I think it a pity if custody is regarded as the ultimate sentence and anything else means being let off lightly. Penalties that can be worked through in the community can be just as effective as both punishment and deterrent against reoffending, especially for young offenders. I wouldn’t think that a community sentence automatically implies that rape isn’t regarded as a serious crime." --- to a MASS of the British population, that is EXACTLY what such a sentence implies, not so much 'slap on the wrist', as a a free pass to go and do it again, it was so much fun the first time?

To those wanting the imbecilic judge not just re-trained, but stuck off, he must be close to retirement age, called to the Bar in 1988, a 'Recorder' in 2005, and a 'Circuit Judge' since 2014. I suspect he'll soon be given a role more suited to his, er, 'talents'. In my world, he'd have a few weeks at a sewage works, with a shovel.

According to the Spectator (isn't Google wonderful?) the culprits are 'traveller boys', which of course gives them extra privileges, as that group can defile chunks of parks, open ground and private property, (not to mention quadruple the petty crime rate wherever they pitch up), with every expectation that the 'Law' won't be applied to them as it would the rest of us (who actually pay to help run the country, not leech off it).

And doubtless the Judge has never mixed with the Traveller community, so may have applied entirely the wrong (lack of) thinking?

So, those wanting the Judge removed may get their wish, PLUS let's hope the 'sentencing guidelines' in which he managed to find sufficient leeway DO get some serious reworking?

I ALSO see that one of the boys has played the 'ADHD' card, and suffers from "anxiety" . . . . . oh dear, poor little chap. Time I think to get him reassessed, as if he can plan and carry out a rape, at knifepoint, and get it all filmed, he's clearly NOT that 'anxious', and there can't be much wrong with his supposed 'Attention Deficit'?

For anyone still sympathetic, re his "poor background", kindly DO NOT insult those of us who came from an ultra-poor background but didn't go off the rails. I'd point you to the States, where masses of black kids, from extremely humble backgrounds, AND suffering from their accentuated racism issues, have gone on to be leaders in sports, the arts, politics, and assorted professions, etc etc. And doubtless some of THEM had some 'anxieties' along the way, like having to avoid the local KKK most nights?!

I'd GO FURTHER -- for those committing such serious offences, repulsive to the majority of the population, but presently in a special category due to being 'underage', let's prosecute the PARENTS too. They can then try to present some excuses about why their dragged-up offspring have been allowed out to worsen our allegedly civilised society?

Good idea. A female Judge attemptedto give a balanced opinion on this whole caseon TV last night- whilst I applaud her attempt to try to justify the situation I feel it does send the wrong message out.
Yes, these boys are still technically children but children need educating and girls deserve to be able to go about their lives without being treated like this.
I wonder if there is something to be said for having female only judges handling the sentencing for these cases?
There is no justice here. I hope the appeal shows that women can still trust the system.

This cannot be allowed to stand, if rape is dismissed in this manner then girls and women everywhere are not safe and never will be. We already know that many girls and women don’t even report rape because they know they won’t be taken seriously, this verdict just emphasises this.
A terrible reflection upon how some in the judicial system regard rape and why a minority of boys and men feel they can get away it.
Have written to my MP about this and would suggest others do likewise.

What does this lenient scentence say to other 14/15 year olds - that they can commit rape and then hide behind their age?
If they're able to do the crime then they're able to do the time and he should have been made an example of them.
I wonder how the judge would have reacted if it had been his daughter who was raped?
I also wonder what kind of scentence he would have given if those lads had raped another boy?

I am sure the judge would have preferred to give the boys a full sentence but he was unable to as that would be going against the law as it stands now when 14 yr olds are classed as still being kids I just hope they will now change the law as I agree that those poor young ladies must still be affected and could be for life not being able to trust men.

'from an underprivileged background and giving them a criminal record may not have been a good idea'.

If you read some of the early reports, grandMattie, it would appear the boys' background was not particularly under privileged; they are from a community those in authority are often advised to 'go easy' on.

Sack the judge immediately and also examine other recent cases he’s tried as he certainly is not fit to sit in judgement

I am the mother of two grown men. If my boys had committed such a heinous crime I would have expected and welcomed a prison sentence. The prison sentence is not only a deterrent but shows the victims they have been heard and justice done.
We as a society have to defend the victims in all crimes. Any rebuilding of these boys lives should take place in a boot camp. I'm sorry if I offend the sensitive souls but this country needs a firm hand.

If they are doing this sort of thing at this age, what will they do in the future.

The so called sentence is disgraceful.

It’s difficult to go through terrible things in your life let us hope that they are provided with the help they are entitled to. Maybe the Judge should pay for counselling?
The boys should have a custodial sentence long enough and hard enough to have an impact.

I must also add that it’s possible the judge had in mind that all the evidence shows that youth custody is completely ineffective in rehabilitation or deterrence. Arguably, it doesn’t even work to protect the public as most offenders come out worse than when they go in, and progress to more extreme offending.
I doubt that the judge passed the sentence he did because of threats from the travelling community, although it is true that the job has got more dangerous, and judges have been attacked in court. It is more likely that he was mindful of guidance in the Equal Treatment Benchbook that the Traveller community is subject to discrimination.

Reluctant to admit it, but I used to work in the justice system in a senior capacity. I don’t agree with the sentence but actually judges don’t have as much leeway as you would think, there are guidelines which must be followed otherwise the sentence can be appealed.
Believe it or not, but judges have to do a considerable amount of annual training which includes input from rape crisis and domestic violence centres.

How far from real life, common sense and justice are some of these judges? Unbelievable!

What was he thinking that he thought this was ok. There’s no deterrent to stop boys doing this again. Yes, I think he should be struck off. His behaviour is abominable.

Rowland is a total and utter disgrace, and clearly so out of touch with reality it’s truly frightening, given his position. The message here “is if you come from a troubled background and are on the spectrum, then the law does not apply to you “. I agree with others, send him to a rape crisis centre. I wonder if he has daughters ? How would he feel if these feral monsters raped his own daughter ? It’s a well known fact that qualifications are no substitute for basic common sense, and that clearly applies here, and he has previous for poor decisions. It’s heartwarming that the whole country is up in arms over this and even Giselle P has spoken out, and now it will go to appeal, let’s hope the monsters don’t disappear in the meantime. Yes, our prisons are overcrowded, understaffed etc, they’ve been in decline for 20 years now and it’s about time it was addressed. Watch Richard Madeley tonight C5 at 9pm.

Yes judge needs to reprimanded and investigated.
Trauma at any level has consequences ie a life of fear, depression, PTSD definitely, not being able to trust, communicate easily at least etc. I won’t expand. The perpetrators get to move on with a sympathetic pat on the back as though they’ve just been naughty boys!!!!!the victims bless them WONT move on easily. Victims may learn to cope but FIXED IMO, nope. They probably carry mental scars and maybe physical.

i always feel that these judges are firstly so out of touch with the world they have no idea what goes on bar what they read in the Times or Telegraph. To be honest they all need sacking. Most are of the age too which any other job they would be long gone

The judge certainly needs to attend a refresher sentencing course, and one on sexual crimes. Are there courses for judges to attend?

My experience, as a teacher, of the traveller community, is there is a certain " macho" culture, combined with keeping girls close . I am sure that it's not every traveller, but I have met this in discussions with boys raised this way.
I'm not convinced that the boys will be meeting, at home, with the kind of opprobrium that might be expected.

I had a run in with two traveller boys last year when I’d been cycling. I was in a village sat on a bench having a breather and a drink when I noticed two lads racing about the lane on motorised scooters. I suspected they were travellers and was slightly uneasy as my bike is quite an expensive one. Sure enough they approached me - one looked about 14/15 and the other about 12/13. One wanted to have a go on my bike and I declined. They were asking me where I’d cycled from and I told them and although I was perfectly friendly towards them they started getting nasty and accusing me of lying - they didn’t believe I’d cycled 15 miles. Finally the younger one said “you haven’t come from Colston you’ve come from your mam’s c***!

Sounds silly now but it quite upset and unnerved me. I’m 63 and was chatting to them pleasantly but to no avail. Thankfully they rode off shouting insults and as soon as they were out of sight I pedalled off and didn’t stop until I was in a less remote area.

Makes one wonder how they are brought up.

Thank you Ashcombe, I didn’t know that.

surfsup

Ashcombe

I fear that there’s a possibility that the judge may have been threatened, given the background of the three boys.

What is their background?

They are travellers.

surfsup

Ashcombe

I fear that there’s a possibility that the judge may have been threatened, given the background of the three boys.

What is their background?

I imagine threatening a judge would have seen the parents in court before they could say Jack Robinson! It's a serious offence and even if it was his word against theirs, as a judge his word must carry a lot of weight.

I apologise I for some reason hadn't taken in the full details of the case. I have just realised that it was two separate cases, they are in fact, already serial rapists.