everyone deserves a second chance?

[Bobbisox]

and I think this lad does...
he was wrong and has admitted it, Do you think he should have been given this ?

[nannybooby]

jack you are soooright. much better put than I did

[jno]

the law doesn't state that any first offender stealing a bottle of beer (it may have been fine champagne, I don't know) must be banged up for four months. There are a lot of guidelines as to how judges should treat individual offences - taking factors like a first offence into account.

The government told the courts to ignore the guidelines.

Apparently it's only looters who mustn't break the rules. It's fine for politicians. It's fine for police (whose shooting of a man who wasn't threatening them is what sparked off the riots). It's fine for judges.

See also Dr Filth's link above for another example of extremely partial justice.

[DrFilth]

can people just get this bit right,
>> break into a shop into the middle of a riot and steal <<

the lad did not break into the shop, the shop was open, the door wide open as can be seen in the picture in the link.

the staff as the report says were hiding in a back room ( if we are to believe the report) the lad walked in and walked out without paying for the item

[jackthehat]

That's just semantics, Dr Filth, unless you are suggesting that the lad was oblivious to all that was going on around him....?

[Bobbisox]

I have followed this thread with interest,
what would you have happen to this lad now?
more crime?
or to be shocked into reality?...hopefully
he says he has a future in acting, can we not give him such a chance?

[nannybooby]

jno the looters were just that ,looting is a dispicable crime its not just theft.
Most of the rioters appear to have gone out to inflict the most damage they could and loot in to the bargin that isnt political comment its thuggery

[emmie]

No, you do the crime, then do the time, sorry.

[jno]

that's just a sample picture of a generic berioted supermarket grocery, Dr Filth. My guess is you're right nonetheless.

[exdc]

Dr F

What offence/s was this individual convicted of?.

[DrFilth]

>> unless you are suggesting that the lad was oblivious to all that was going on around him. <<

i have no idea if he had smoked or taken anything do you think if he had said he was drunk and had smoked some weed he would have got a shorter sentence like some of the hard core yobs do.

[jno]

hang on, nannybooby, you're confusing rioting and looting. Looting IS just theft. People who caused destruction to property are a different matter. And no, they weren't all the same people. Do you have evidence showing otherwise?

[jackthehat]

What??
Were there instances of rioters high on something other than adrenaline who were able to use that fact as mitigation?

Or are you talking about 'other times and other crimes'?

[TOWIE]

X Factor next year along with obligatory sob story....(:o(

[Bobbisox]

very likely DEN...:-)

[DrFilth]

it just seems very harsh for a bottle of beer

[starone]

He has had his sentence halved - he should be grateful to a lenient juidge. I wonder how many of those terrorised are getting difficulty in sleeping. Looks as if he will only have to do another couple of weeks and he will be out, suitably chastised, one hopes. Enough perhaps not to do it again.

[horseshoes]

jno - I would NEVER say that looting is JUST theft. I believe it is a despicable act. Looting happens when people are evacuated from their homes during floods etc, and of course during riots as we have recently seen. It's about as low as theft gets IMO.

[exdc]

This chap committed a Burglary though Dr F

[Bobbisox]

and Star,,, that is my take on this too

[nannybooby]

jno looting isnt just theft its stealing during times of crisis eg war ,civil unrest its a truely awful crime , it goes far beyond theft and as such is treated more seriously - quite rightly.
And on the subject of just theft - have you personally been the victim of theft? Its not JUST theft when its you home,family ,buisness.You carry the scars for ever.