The Archers

Must say I would have been horrified if George had NOT received custodial sentence. Thought the Judge's summing up was excellent.
Right from the start George had 'the presence of mind' to try to the blame on to Helen - even after the horrific accident and rescues he had enough energy to move her into the driving seat AND to delete the message on the phone saying he was driving her home. He fully knew how bad this accident was and quite deliberately decided to put the blame elsewhere. Then as that started to collapse he tried to fit upo Harry

No amount of remorse later on -and it was far more remorse for having been found out that for what he had done, would make up for those very deliberate actions. Had there been genuine remorse much earlier on and had he then gone to the police to confess, perhaps his sentence would then have been a lot lighter. But, NO, he ran off to the one person whom he knew would support his decision NOT to confess.

Him having to go an adult prison instead of Young Offenders, does well in showing up the utter mess of our whole prison system.

We’re in the hands of the scriptwriters - who knows where they’ll take us next? If they listened to the podcast perhaps they’ll ask Rob Rinder to guest on the show as George’s barrister. He’d be delighted.

Had a quick look up about appealing sentences

"A sentence will be generally regarded as being wrong in principle if the sentence was unlawful, for example the defendant was given a prison sentence in excess of the maximum. The most common ground advanced by way of appeal against sentence is the argument that a sentence is 'manifestly excessive'.

George would have to appeal in 15 working days.

Having heard the podcast I think there are might be grounds for an appeal, as no credit was given for George’s guilty plea. Rob Rinder, thought an 18month suspended sentence would have been about right.

Scar someone for life is a really strong expression Galaxy. Is it enough to explain his impulsivity, misogyny and the idiocy of driving Alice then bravely rescuing others, not to mention the persistent attempts to pervert the course of justice.
I’m not disagreeing with you. I’m always interested in personality development/nature-nurture discussions

I’m sure many of us will have known people whose childhood was marked by neglect, abuse, chaotic adult relationships. Some find resilience and others don’t

This story line didn’t finish with the prison sentence 🌞

Oops. Because of his mums history with 2 brothers. We as listeners have accepted Ed and Emma but actually for a child that backstory is enough to scar someone for life.

Yes I enjoy it, I particularly enjoyed George's discussion a while ago about the fact that he was 'teased' by people bec

I agree with your post, Iam64. I too enjoy the long slow development of character, almost in real time, although I do find some of the “filler” storylines tedious, for example, the relationship between Alistair and Denise.

Yes, the reaction in the pub tonight to the outcome of the trial was very realistic.

It’s my only soap too. I’ve been hearing it for almost all of its 73 years (not always actually listening very closely). It’s just always been there.

I’ve heard tonight’s good episode but not the podcast.
This story line started before George was born and he’s 19, so classic long burn Archers. I appreciate the way characters develop and they’re all human, likeablen.not likeable, human, flawed.
I liked tonight’s scene in the Bull with Lilian taking the simplistic rather joyous view about George’s sentence and with no understanding of the complex emotions for Fallon
TA is my only soap and I do enjiy ut

Crossed posts Georgesgran…

Maw - according to Delila on this thread last night, Rob Rinder will give his opinion on the new Archers Podcast.

But Rob Rinder will talk about the judgement on the new podcast tonight apparently.

According to today’s cast list the judge was played by David Acton.

Did I hear aright - that Rob Rinder played the Judge in last nights episode? Or did I imagine it.

Because he was driving. The driver is responsible, he should never have driven but once he did, he should have stopped instantly he was asked to.

Iam64

The way the Judge delivered his reasons for sentencing was an accurate representation of Real Life imo. He summarised the mitigating circs which he concluded were outweighed by George’s deliberate continued attempts to blame Alice then Henry. Perverting the course of justice almost always results in custody

Yes I agree. But it does not sound as though George was driving dangerously - the accident happened because his passenger tried to open her door, not because of his driving - so how was he prosecuted for DD?

Iam64

The way the Judge delivered his reasons for sentencing was an accurate representation of Real Life imo. He summarised the mitigating circs which he concluded were outweighed by George’s deliberate continued attempts to blame Alice then Henry. Perverting the course of justice almost always results in custody

The Scriptwriters have been busy for a couple of weeks or more gaining our sympathy for George as in showing him able after a long period to feel remorse - but only recently, not so long ago he was trying to lay the blame on Harry..

But yes - the Judge bought back the reality to us that its actually quite appalling to do what he did, and the sentences were par for the course.

Galaxy share your views on the horrible thought point - please, no! I think it will be the visits in prison etc.

Emma & Will appear to have had a lucky escape then.

The way the Judge delivered his reasons for sentencing was an accurate representation of Real Life imo. He summarised the mitigating circs which he concluded were outweighed by George’s deliberate continued attempts to blame Alice then Henry. Perverting the course of justice almost always results in custody

Prison corrupts - I know this.
It will be interesting to hear the podcast.

I heard on the Today programme this morning that the new Archers podcast starts this evening & “Judge Rinder” will be giving his thoughts on the judgement.

He’ll always have family, unless prison turns him into another Clive.

I am sad for George and Emma. She is one of my favourite characters, flaws and all. They might not write him out, we might have regular 'visits' to him in prison. We met one of Helen's cell mates didnt we?
Oh I have just had a horrible thought, I wonder if they will go down the assault route in prison or darker than that.
And of course if he comes out unscathed so to speak there will be the parallels with Freddie, who had money and family influence to protect him on his re entry to society.

Or, if George hadn’t tried to do Alice a good turn by driving her home. If he’d left her to sleep it off in that lay-by none of it would have happened. But as you say, Luckygirl, it led to him making some criminal decisions, for which he’ll be paying a harsh penalty.
I do think there were mitigating circumstances, but perhaps the judge took those into consideration. I’ll have to listen again.

Custodial was inevitable cos of deliberate actions to put the blame on someone else.
But I was surprised that the driving aspect attracted a year .. the fact that Alice trying to open the door was a v important factor that was not brought up. If she had not done that there would have been no accident.