The Justice System Has NO Justice

[globalloon]

about 6 months ago a friend of mine had just finished work and was started on by a guy who was trashed. the cctv was following him around town because the other person who had been out drinking with him had already been arrested and the one left wandering around was pissing everyone off. he was on camera trying to get into a pub and the doormen turned him away.

it's on camera that as soon as he walked away he walked up to my friend and started on him verbally and tried to take his phone

my friend is one of the most chilled out people you would ever meet and spends about half his life doing mountain rescue, he works as a residential social worker in a young offenders unit and is father to 2 twins.

so this drunk stranger started a fight with him and my friend and tipped him over a low wall. the bloke landed on his head and fractured his skull

my friend was duly arrested and pleaded guilty to GBH

now bear in mind he didn't start the fight, has made a positive contribution to society for the last 12 years through his choice of career, has no previous, and has a family that are financially and emotionally dependant on him

he asked (through his barrister) to receive an indeterminate suspended sentence + 2 year curfew + community work + a fine

he got a 12 month custodial sentence

WHAT THE FUCK?

the judge is punishing his children more than anyone by denying them a father and a stable income

AND wasting vast sums of public money...

i am so fucking angry right now

[globalloon]

looking through the news for the last year there are pre meditated rapes that got lesser sentences

[Holeydel]

Such is life my friend. When it comes to police prosecution records it's all about 'clear up' records i.e *75% of cases brought before the court resulted in prosecution, hiding the fact the rapist received only 1 year, or the violent offender received 6 months, so on so forth. No longer is going to prison a form of justice, it's time in prison that disctates it.

As for your friend, it sucks. And no doubt he reiceved his sentence cos he was advised to plead guilty and accept a form of punishment rather than go to crown court and risk a much heavier sentence - section 18 maybe. But hey, it's another 'clear up' record to add to police statistics...

* just a random figure I made up

[p0ly]

the law can be such bullshit alot of the time

[Tank Girl]

Shit that is so harsh!!

is there anyway he can appeal? or will it take 6 months before it even gets heard?

I really cant believe this - as you say - it is him and his family who are going to suffer in the long term - when he was deffending himself the fact he was charged with GBH in the first case is wrong, and this may affect future jobs if he is in youth work etc

so sorry to hear this Glo

[Tek Offensive]

thats really shit news.

and the sentence could cause damge to the family lasting alot more than 12 months.

[Dr Bunsen]

Not good! I'm sorry for your mate...

[DaftFader]

shut dude thats bloody crap news .. me heart goes out to your friend and all he knows ... he should't of got anything for that .. he was defending himself ... what was he suposed to do? .. let the guy take all his stuff and possable hurt him? ... thats propper bullshit ... this kind of thing pisses me off too .. i can't imagin how you feel as he is actualy a friend of yours!:group_hug

[DJCliffy]

That's fucking outrageous mate, My heart goes out to your friend and his family. Can he not appeal at all?

[BioTech]

F**king disgusting, Glo. What a balls up. Then they wonder why people have no faith in the law and treat it with suspicion.

I hope his life and that of his family's doesn't get too affected by this. I'm sure having friends like you will go some way towards easing the hassle when he gets out though.

What is the stance of his employers on this, do you know? I'm assuming that this will affect his chances of returning to social work due to the record, whether they want him back or not?

[General Lighting]

this is not just wholly unfair but worryingly similar to how the two totally non-violent lads involved in the rave here two years ago both got custodial sentences...

Neither had a record for violence nor had been directly involved in any of the perceived violence towards the Police (the bulk of this actually came from angry pissed lads linked with a local football team!)

I spoke to one of the lads last weekend and the other lads mum (the younger chap had to leave the rave early due to a tag) and it was clear how pointless the whole exercise of sending everyone down was...

[marcusblanc]

there aint no justice, there's just us :hopeless:

[DJCliffy]

Glo this was in the Sun and other papers today, if it's the same case then i retract my earlier post. I have to say your mate was extremely lucky that bloke didn't die. I've even seen the video online and launching somebody off a bridge into water is unacceptable behaviour, even if they're being a cunt you do not throw them off a bridge that is 20ft from the ground. I know he's your mate but he deserves being punished for that, that bloke could of easily died there. Don't think now that I'm having a go fella but he does deserve some sort of punishment for that, maybe not 12 months, 2-6 months would of been more appropriate. I doubt he'll serve the whole sentence though, probably do half i should think.

Situations like this you have to walk away, It's hard i know and i have been there before a few times but the best course of action is to walk away and rant about it to your mates. not flare up and do something silly like your mate did.

I do have sympathy for your friend and his family though and hope they find a way to get through this. :)

[DJCliffy]

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[BioTech]

Glo this was in the Sun and other papers today, if it's the same case then i retract my earlier post.

I think it might be a different incident. Glo said it was a low wall.

I could be wrong though.

[DJCliffy]

I think it might be a different incident. Glo said it was a low wall.

I could be wrong though.

Don't think it is, Too many similarities to what Glo has said for it not to be. Won't say anymore or post any links out of respect for Global and his friend. :wink:

[BioTech]

Ahh ok, I didn't read the article.

[globalloon]

i don't think it was in The Sun

but anyway, my point is that what he did was wrong and he should receive a punishment but it was totally out of character and there are so many ways punish people (he's already lost his career because of this) ... curfew, fines, community service, suspended sentence ... prison is more of a punishment to his family and a massive cost to the tax payer... he's actually one of the people that contributes most to the world that i know

[DJCliffy]

i don't think it was in The Sun

but anyway, my point is that what he did was wrong and he should receive a punishment but it was totally out of character and there are so many ways punish people (he's already lost his career because of this) ... curfew, fines, community service, suspended sentence ... prison is more of a punishment to his family and a massive cost to the tax payer... he's actually one of the people that contributes most to the world that i know

I agree with ya mate on that. it is his family that will suffer an my heart does go out to em. Btw is your mate's initials L.C?

[bin shaker]

thats a fucking joke mate im sorry to hear that. a similar thing happened to me so i have sympathy for your friend. the system thats set up just doesnt work and im afraid it never has. they take away our freedoms all the time but to deny someone the right to defend their selfs against drunken nob heads leaves us peacefull folk the losers. its not fair