Exercise In Futility...

Cawthray, who has twice been jailed for rape, was locked up for life in 2002 after kidnapping a 14-year-old girl.

He grabbed the schoolgirl at a bus stop near Leeds and was dragging her towards a brook when he was disturbed and ran off.

A judge imposed an indeterminate sentence with a minimum recommendation of five years because of the risk Cawthray posed to young women. He was told he would not be released by the Parole Board until it was satisfied he no longer posed a risk and would then be on licence for life.

It didn't take them long to 'satisfy themselves' of his low risk potential, as he was moved to an open prison.

And....

Sean Cawthray, 41, was last seen at the prison at 5.30pm on Sunday and is believed to have absconded before 8.30pm.

Shocker, I'm sure you'll agree.

Detective Inspector Dominic Graham, of South Gloucestershire CID, said: "We are committed to locating, returning to custody and charging anyone unlawfully at large.

"Officers work closely with HMP Leyhill and other police forces to track down absconders promptly and keep any potential risk to the public to a minimum."

I guess you get a lot of practice?

Never Mind, Judge, It's Unlikely You'll Have To Put Up With Him In Your Neighbourhood, Eh?

A boy of 12 who carried out more than 20 criminal acts was today released without charge - because the courts have no legal way to deal with him.

A judge heard the child's behaviour has 'deteriorated beyond control' but his low IQ means that he cannot properly understand the court process.

The judge described the situation as the 'perfect storm' as there is no way that the court could accept a guilty plea from him, as he cannot understand the implications of his acts, and they could not follow doctor's recommendations, as the boy had not been convicted.

So the only thing they can do it...let him go!

Lian Webster-Martin, defending, said: 'I don't seek to say that an absolute discharge is in the boy's best interest, but we have looked at every possible avenue.'

I expect his foster home is as far away from you as it is from District Judge Callaway's house...

We can't , of course, know his name. That would be inhumane. Apparently.

But I suspect we'll be hearing about him again. And again, and again, and again...

Vive La France! Again!

OK, yes, it was suspended. But as we are always told at this time of year, it's the thought that counts...

A French psychiatrist has been convicted of manslaughter six years after one of her patients hacked an elderly man to death. Danielle Canarelli, 58, was handed a one-year suspended prison sentence for her 'grave error' in failing to recognise that her paranoid schizophrenic patient Joël Gaillard posed a public risk.

Refreshing, eh?

The doctor, who has over 30 years of experience and currently works at Marseille's Edouard-Toulouse hospital, was also ordered to pay 8,500 euros to the victim's children, in the groundbreaking case that could affect the way patients are treated.

Better and better...

'If a psychiatrist lives in fear of being sentenced, it will have very real consequences and probably lead to harsher treatment of patients,' said Canarelli's lawyer, Sylvain Pontier.

Yes, but if it saves one life, Sylvain! Isn't that the pious retort of those who'd restrict essential liberties in other circumstances?

Who’s The Victim Here Again..?

A knifeman who injured three security guards in a terrifying attack at York Hospital has been jailed for four years.

So he’ll serve…two?

The attack happened at about 11.30pm on July 22, near a science department at the Wigginton Road site, after Meason had “made a nuisance of himself” for more than an hour, Helen Wheatley, prosecuting, told York Crown Court.

It was the third time Meason had been caught with a knife in public, said Ms Wheatley. On an earlier occasion, he had attacked shop security staff who caught him shoplifting.

Time to throw the book at him, then!

Judge Roger Ibbotson told him: “It is time you learnt how dangerous producing a knife and waving it around can be. You have shown little or no remorse. You still think of yourself as the victim in this.”

Eh? He thinks he’s the victim?

While he was sentenced, Meason called out: “He was strangling me when I bit him.”

Yes, well, he was trying to stop you stabbing someone!

His barrister, Emma Bennett, said Meason had himself been injured in the struggle and felt he had been attacked by the three guards.

He had been passing through York on his way home to Mansfield and had “taken refuge” in the hospital grounds after an “incident” in the city centre, she said, but she did not say what the incident was.

He had not intended to harm the three guards and his actions had been reckless, not premeditated, she said.

Carrying a knife around isn't premeditation enough?

Finally, We Reach The Limit Of Judge Hagen’s Patience…

…or do we?

A judge who tried to help a prolific offender jailed her for 12 months, saying she had reached "the end of the line".

It’s a pretty long line, with this particular judge, though.

Sundee Spaulding admitted to Judge Carol Hagen she had "messed up", after pleading guilty to failing to attend court and breaching a community order by shoplifting.

The homeless 25-year-old told the judge: "I wanted to apologise. You did give me so many chances. I did mess up and the only option now is custody. I think that is the best option. I did mess up. I know you don't care that I messed up. I'm sorry for letting you down."

Oh, give it up! It’s not going to work, and even Caring Carol has realised she can’t string this out any longer.

Though clearly, she’d like to:

Judge Hagen said she did care Spaulding had not complied with the court, and said she hoped she could go on to lead a decent life.

She said: "This was a combination of factors. I do understand, but I have no option today. It is the end of the line. I hope the future is not without hope."

So, in other words, if she’d have been given any leeway at all, this habitual criminal would again be walking free?