It's Not A Change In The Law That's Needed...

...it's a change in the attitudes of the public sector:

The DPP revealed the change in tactics yesterday as he responded to the criticism and said he will not hesitate to call for a change in the law.

Pointless. Utterly pointless. Yet more evidence (as if it were needed) that Kier Starmer is as much use as a chocolate teapot...

Ann Clwyd, a Labour MP whose 2003 FGM Act bans girls being taken abroad to have the procedure, said teachers, doctors and police had shown "a lack of sufficient will to confront minority ethnic groups on such an issue".

She added: "It's very nice to get a law through Parliament, but if it isn't acted upon, it isn't worth the paper it's written on."

Starmer's solution? Try a different law!

Mr Starmer said he did not want to repeal existing anti-FGM laws, as that would "send the wrong message", but he conceded "the legislation clearly isn't nearly enough on its own". His FGM "action plan" also pledges to "explore whether evidence to prosecute offences under other legislation is possible and may be easier to support".

He targeted the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act, which creates an offence of "causing or allowing a child or vulnerable adult to die or suffer serious physical harm", as route to tougher action.

Clearly, a man who only has a hammer to solve his problems...

An Association of Chief Police Officers spokesman said: "Detection can be difficult because some children are exposed to the practice before they enter the schooling system. There are dedicated officers working in this area and police will investigate where there is information that such practices are occurring. Officers are working with community representatives to highlight serious health issues that can arise."

Stop 'working with community representatives' and start arresting them!

If it helps to get your outrage on, try to imagine they pinched some 20 year old starlet's bum 30 years ago... 

And stop hiring public health workers from the cultures that tolerate this:

I moved to England in 2011 and, through my work, I have seen women, some Somali, who have needed to have an operation [deinfibulation] to give birth. But when they come back for a second child they have again been sewn up [reinfibulation], so it is possible they are having FGM in the UK. I want to help other ladies. I feel complete but I don't want girls to go through this.

That's a quote from 'Aissa Edon, 30, a midwife working at Ealing Hospital, London.'

What does she do with her information, other than give it to a newspaper reporter? Perhaps a few high-profile trials of those who turn a blind eye will do the trick.

I suggest we start with Aissa.

You Might Be Putting Your Faith In The Wrong People...

Mr Miller wants people to report any unsavoury activity to the trust so he can build up a database of incidents and pass the information to the police.

"We may find it happens at certain times of the day," he said. "I'm hearing all these things anecdotally as I'm working but the police can't do much about it unless they catch someone in the act."

Why expect them to do anything at all? They don't seem to see it as part of their job...

What they do see as part of their job is something the public would never imagine:

At 10.30pm that night, while her boyfriend Ricky Strachan was still scouring the streets, two police officers knocked on the door.

Had they found the car? No, they had come to give her ‘words of advice’ about the way she was ‘handling things on Facebook’.

Lesley said: ‘They were all over my laptop taking screen grabs. The female officer wrote something in her notebook and made me sign it.

‘I asked them to clarify that I was still the victim here and not the criminal. She just said: “We’ve got to make sure we’ve got everything covered.”’

It's hard not to disagree that this is 'typical of the way in which the modern police ‘service’ find investigating exciting new ‘crimes’ much more to their taste than actually going out on the streets catching old- fashioned criminals', isn't it..?

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...

Collective Punishment Still All The Rage In 2013, Then...

The £18.5million Roscommon Way extension was opened in January in a bid to ease traffic and help Charfleets Industrial Estate on Canvey expand.

However, yobs have been using the road as a racetrack since September, causing misery for residents by revving their engines, honking their horns and causing damage to the road in the early hours.

All traffic offences. So, catch them, prosecute them, impose ASBOs.

No? What, too much like hard work, Essex Police?

An Essex Police spokesperson said: “Our policing operations to combat anti-social bikers on Roscommon Way appear to have only fixed the problem short term. We are looking into a more robust way of combating the problem in the long term.

“We are continuing to liaise with the highways authority in a bid to alter the road layout to prevent such dangerous riding.”

The plans could include introducing traffic calming measures such as speed humps or chicanes to force motorists to slow down.

Hang on, 'motorists'? I thought we were talking about 'rogue bikers'?

And What Do You Think Now, Magistrates?

A mum who admitted screaming at an Indian to go back to her own country and being drunk in charge of a child was praised by magistrates for getting her life back on track.

Kelly Kociela, 31, abused an Indian member of staff at Sainsbury's Local on the corner of Longmead Avenue and Gloucester Road before being stopped by police during the afternoon while swigging from a can of lager with her children , six and ten, in tow.

Lovely, I'm sure you'll agree.

Magistrates told her: "Normally we would be looking at probation intervention. However we do see that you are making sterling efforts to get your life back on track and engaging with agencies that can help you."

That was back in March. And since then?

A mother who turned up at her children's school while drunk has been banned from the premises after she bit the deputy headteacher on the arm.

Kelly Kociela appeared 'emotional and slurring' when she turned up at Filton Avenue Junior and Infant School, in Bristol, where she demanded to take her two youngsters from a club. She then became abusive to staff in a 30 minute ordeal during which she bit teacher Matthew Cox, Bristol magistrates heard.

Shocker, I'm sure you'll agree...

The court heard she had previous convictions for being drunk in charge of a child in 2005, 2006, 2007 and this year and she will be sentenced on January 17.

Magistrates bailed her on condition she complies with an existing Bristol City Council restraining order banning her from the school.

Because she did such a sterling job of obeying the last one!

This Is Why No-One Will Come To Help...

Last week, this reality show clip did the rounds on Twitter, with many of the police bemoaning the fact that the bystanders did nothing to help the officer.

Many people pointed out that, had they attempted to wade in, they'd probably have been nicked themselves.  It was pooh-poohed, of course.

And yet...

District Judge Daniel Curtis said Crompton went beyond his public duty and his sentence sent out the message that a police officer is not "beyond the law".

Crompton was given a 12-month community order, 150 hours of unpaid work, told to pay costs of £1,500 and £500 in compensation to his victim.

Crompton wasn't on duty at the time.

District Judge Curtis said: "On the Sunday before Christmas, staff at Winteringham Fields were taken out by Colin McGurran for some drinks as a thanks for their hard work.

"They had been in the Bay Horse public house from 4.30pm onwards.

"At around 8.30pm, Colin Crompton and his wife arrived at the Bay Horse as they wanted a quiet drink.

"They decided to move on to the Ferry Boat. The Winteringham Fields group stayed for about an hour longer before moving on to the Ferry Boat as they did not want to disturb the quiz night."

Witnesses had described the atmosphere in the pub as "tense" and a series of minor disagreements took place. It was at this point Mr Oades was asked to leave the pub by the landlady. Moments later, he tried to return through a side entrance that was being blocked by the defendant.

Judge Curtis said: "Colin McGurran told staff to finish their drinks and leave.

"Thomas Oades felt a tug on him by the defendant who told him to get out.

"He was grabbed by Crompton, who had both hands around his neck and the victim found it hard to breathe."

He added: "You slammed the young man down on a wall and repeatedly punched him,"

He suffered swelling and bruising to both eyes, dried blood under the nostrils, swelling to his mouth, and red marking to his arms, neck and shoulders.

Off-duty cop assists landlady in removing drunken troublesome youth. Gets accused of excessive violence. Will now probably lose his job.

Now, still expect members of the public to wade in?

Maybe It Does Come From Being 'A Professional Footballer'....

...and maybe it comes from something else:

"You have shown no remorse and you have not got the faintest idea what you put this woman through. You are only interested in what you want and think you deserve.

"Whether or not that comes from being a professional footballer, I don't know, but arrogance like that is simply not acceptable in this society."

Well, look at the circumstances:

The court heard how Ada met the woman at a club in London's West End in February this year. It was told that the pair exchanged phone numbers and arranged to meet up the following night at the woman's home.

The jury heard how Ada, now playing for Conference team Ebbsfleet United, suggested bringing a friend along but could not get hold of one. He arrived alone and he, the woman and her friend drank vodka.

But the court was told Ada's demeanour changed after a few hours and he demanded to be with the victim alone. He told her he had made "the effort and sacrifice" to come to her, before forcing himself on her and making her perform sex acts.

And just where was the woman's 'friend' at this point? Did she leave as demanded? Why?

After being told to leave, Ada sent a text saying: "I am sorry, I was drunk" and then, in a phone call to her friend, said: "I am sorry I forced her, but she had led me on," the jury heard.

Yes, yes. I know. But did she really expect him to think he'd been invited over to play 'Scrabble'?

Ada was arrested the next day at the Brewers' training ground. The court heard he initially denied that he had touched her.

However, he later told detectives he knew his victim's "type", as they wanted to grab hold of a footballer as it would give them a better and more glamorous life.

To most feminists, he might well be a lousy raping scumbag (but then, to a lot, all men are, regardless).

But...he's not entirely wrong, is he? And the role of the 'friend' in this whole affair is an odd one, I think you'll agree...

Straight From The Horse's Mouth!

Stephen Sikpi, 23, singled out dozing passengers on late night services between London Liverpool Street and Southend Victoria. He stole expensive belongings including iPhones and iPads and even an entire rucksack.

He was eventually caught after a tracker was identified on a stolen iPhone which led police to his girlfriend’s home.

Thanks be to technology!

Elizabeth Connolly, mitigating, said the first theft had been entirely opportunistic and he had no previous offences. He had only received a caution in the past.

She said: “Because he got away with it he then with it he then disengaged with reality, with the reality of what he was doing was wrong, the reality of the affect (sic) on the victims.”

There you have it - what better proof that short, lenient sentences don't work?

She said that he had difficulty “engaging” with his probation officer and so had probably not given the best impression in his pre-sentence report.

Translation: chippy little scumbag smarted off to his probation officer because, who cares what goes down in those reports anyway?

He was jailed for eight months. No order was made for costs or compensation due to his circumstances.

That'll teach him!

How Is This Not Attempted Murder?

The suspects fled to a red Hyundai car and as the police sergeant stood in the road and raised his hand to stop it Togher accelerated into him, the court heard.

The impact lifted him off his feet, said Mr Doherty, but the officer gave chase and caught up with Togher when her escape was blocked at a junction.

If you drive a half-tionne of metal and glass at someone at speed, how are you not attempting to kill them?

Heroin addict Togher, of Martock Road, Bedminster, was jailed for a total of 11 months yesterday after pleading guilty to theft, dangerous driving and assault with intent to resist arrest at an earlier hearing.

*speechless*

Judge Grainger disqualified Togher from driving for two years.

That's just adding insult to injury!!

"...and hear the lamentation of the women."

Hey, Conan was right!

The family broke down and wept in the dock, except for William, who stood stoney faced.

Mary, also known as Breda, screamed uncontrollably and frantically pulled her hair as the first verdict, against her husband was read out.

"Oh daddy! Oh daddy!" she yelled. "Mind the children. Why are you doing this? I have never done anything to anyone in all my life."

Six security staff struggled to maintain order while the verdicts were read out. One security guard was injured as family members leapt to their feet and Gloucestershire Police officers in the front row helped eject family members from the public gallery.

Extra security guards rushed into court to physically remove relatives.

John Connors' wife was carried from the court after trying to climb out of the public gallery into the dock. As she left, she wailed: "Please, please, I'm asking you no. Don't do this."

Miles Connors' wife was also carried screaming from the court.

Who said we had abolished slavery in England?

Maybe Some Pubs Deserve To Close...

...and not due to the smoking ban or the increase in supermarket alcohol availability, either:

The three, said to have been drunk when they committed the offence, have now been given community sentences at Bridlington Magistrates' Court.

Katya Mira, of the RSPCA said: "This was a senseless and sickening attack on some defenseless animals who have done nothing wrong.

"We hope the fact these people were brought to justice sends out a very strong message to others that violence and cruelty to animals is unacceptable and against the law."

Gosh, yes! A 'community punishment'. Ah, if only that meant the community got a chance to come visit them while they spent time in the stocks...

So who are these fine upstanding members of the community?

Daniel Thomas Hall, 21, of Church Lane, Flamborough, Robert Lee, 18, of Lighthouse Road, Flamborough, and Daniel Alan Wood, 18, of the Dog and Duck in Flamborough, all pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal when they appeared at Bridlington Magistrates' Court.

The 'Dog and Duck'..? You're kidding me!

But Daniel Wood's father, David Wood, landlord of the Dog and Duck, said it had been little more than a prank.

He said: "They had just been out drinking. It was just a stupid prank, it wasn't a big thing.

"Daniel is back at sea fishing. It's all behind him now."

Really? Well, the locals and regulars can decide that, can't they?

And sea fishing is a dangerous business in winter....

Don't You Know That It's Different For Girls?

A man who had a six-month fling with a teenage girl has been spared jail.

Cue hired mouthpiece!

Robert Duval, defending, said "Mr Friendship's life had been wrecked by his actions and now he could not even get employment as a cleaner as a result."

He told the judge: "He has never been in trouble in any way, shape or form in his life before these events.

"It is to his credit that he has been as frank as he has to the sexual relationship that has taken place.

"Had he not done so it is probable, although not certain, that he would not have been prosecuted and this matter would have made no news and he would not have appeared in the dock of a crown court in this country. He was not obliged to do that and he has been courageous for doing that.

"This was a genuine case of infatuation. This was not a case of exploitation and there is no evidence of coercion or sophistication or manipulation." Mr Duval added:

"The effects of this case upon him are irretrievable – they are permanent, they are punitive and they are humiliating and distressing."

Wow!

Note: one or two details might have got a bit mixed up...

One to ponder on when you read the next tawdry 'revelations' in the Savile case, eh?

Nothing 'Complex' Or 'Unusual' About It...

Remember this story?

Six police officers were treated in hospital after diving into a river in a bid to rescue five occupants of a car which had crashed into the water.

...

Police said the six officers dived into the River Avon in a bid to save the silver BMW's occupants after it crashed into the water today.

Two other women were being interviewed as witnesses in what the Fire Service described as a "complex" and "unusual" incident.

Oh, really? Well, now the court case is over, we can see just what was so 'complex and unusual' about it:

A drink-driver who careered off a city centre bridge, killing a young mum, had been driving with no licence or insurance for 13 years.

A court heard Shennie Jaffer had more than twice the legal limit of alcohol in his breath when tested, nearly three hours after losing control of his BMW car in Passage Street and plunging into the Floating Harbour.

Bristol Crown Court heard Jaffer, of Robertson Road, Easton, had been showing off and refused to slow down or stop even though his terrified passengers – who included his pregnant girlfriend – pleaded with him before the accident at 4am on October 20

....

Jaffer dived into the water several times but his frantic efforts to free her failed and she drowned.

The court heard the 31-year-old then went home, where police later found him and his girlfriend, next to wet clothes. Disoriented Jaffer initially told them they were "corrupt" in targeting him, before saying: "I tried to help her."

...

He had previous convictions for failing to stop after an accident in 2004, when he was banned for a year, and failing to provide a breath specimen in 2009, when he was banned for two years.

Nothing too unusual there. Nothing too unusual about the defence's laughable attempts, either:

Mr Rose said eventually his client walked away in shock and was found at home, disorientated, with his wet clothes beside him.

He said: "That disorientation was more than mere alcohol.

"When first spoken to he was aggressive and defensive. But he admitted matters regarding him driving in the police station.

"He was exuberant that night, in an excess of high spirits. Now he is very subdued, quiet and thoughtful and inevitably affected by it."

Yes, clearly, he's the victim. OK, maybe the punishment from the justice system is the 'complex and unusual' part?

Jaffer was jailed for six years and eight months yesterday...

Nope. Guess not.

Well, Don't Be Too Hard On Her...

To the family of the grandmother she killed while texting at the wheel of her car, it could not have been more insensitive.

They had come to court hoping to see Nikita Ainley show some remorse – and not a little humility – at her sentencing over the death of Mary Rutherford.

Instead, they looked on as the 20-year-old arrived tapping away on her phone.

...after all, maybe she was checking in with her 'Weightwatchers' app..?

She got three and a half years. Hope she likes prison young offenders unit food.

God, I Really Don't Want To Read His Origin Story!

A killer discovered with a murder kit in his car has been jailed without limit of time after a judge ruled he posed a lifelong risk to women and children.

Police officers discovered Shane Dobson, who suffers from a hero complex, with the murder kit in Hull's red light area, looking for prostitutes.

Wow! And I thought only last week that I'd obviously not been reading the right comics..!

That's some really odd definition of 'superhero'. Who'd he kill?

Ah.

Now, Dobson, who killed his baby daughter by forcing her to swallow a balloon in 1996 to pretend she was ill, has been given an indefinite life sentence.

Yeah. That's a bit too gritty for Marvel or DC to touch!

So I Guess We'll Never Know What His Last Request Would Have Been...

A Staffordshire Bull Terrier on death row has been given a reprieve after his owner's legal team raised thousands of pounds.

Ummmm.... What?

Incredibly, it's this notorious beast:

Barrister Ali Rafati, who waived his fees, helped raise money with fellow barristers and lawyers and other friends outside the legal profession.

Dr Anne McBride, who examined Dre for the defence team, waived part of her fee and then raised money with her students at Southampton University.

Mr Rafati said the charity would have taken Dre without the donations but added the trust was "on the brink". He added: "To my knowledge this is the only charity which can help with dogs such as Dre.

"The dog will remain at the trust until such time they think he can rehomed."

People - and lawyers!! - raise money. For a savage dog.

It's victim? Oh, who cares about her?

PC Campbell spent three hours in surgery, her arm wound requiring 29 stitches after the incident.

You couldn't make it up...

Maybe It's Time It Cost The Police Money Instead..?

The incident ended shortly before midday when the pair gave themselves up.

However, by that point, it had cost businesses in the town thousands of pounds in lost trade.

Mr Scott said: “Grantham town centre had to be shut. A lot of businesses lost revenue.

Thirty businesses in total were closed, with a loss of sales of between £25,000 and £30,000.”

And why did it 'have to be shut'?

Well...

Mr Scott said “Hanes and Neve refused to come down. The stand-off between these two and the police lasted about six hours.

“The police were forced to close down the centre of Grantham because missiles were being thrown off the roof.

“Neve was almost entirely passive throughout the stand-off. He was not seen to throw anything.

“Hanes was argumentative and aggressive shouting threats to the police. At one point he threw coins at the police and he was also throwing roof tiles at parked cars.

“In some sort of defiant gesture he pulled a number of bank notes from his pocket and tossed them in the air.”

All because, when these 'sieges' develop, the police immediately go into 'hands off', containment mode and wait for the situation to play itself out without injury to the poor little criminal darlings.

And why not? They know they aren't liable for the losses, so why should they care?

But maybe if they were to be made accountable, these sieges would be resolved a lot quicker. And that, surely  is good for everybody?

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?

So, She Has Some Standards then...

...I mean, letting her 14 year old daughter try for a baby with a 16 year old who has previous convictions for dishonesty, theft, handling stolen goods, non dwelling burglary and shop lifting, and who is 'not socially aware' and of 'extremely low intelligence' is one thing.

But when you find out he isn't 16 at all, well!

Kenneth Bell, prosecuting, said the girl was 14 and Rudge was 18 when they had a sexual relationship.

He said "In March Mr Rudge was introduced to "the girl's" mother as her boyfriend.

"He said he was 16 but the mother found out he was 18.

"She became concerned and informed Social Services.

"She tried to stop the relationship to no avail and the police became involved."

Mother of the year, I think you'll agree?