Dave Lee Travis Verdict: Three-Month Suspended Sentence

[Jomlett]

Prosecution Miranda Moore QC first read an impact statement from the woman indecently assaulted by DLT in mid 90s...
Prosecution says victim not seeking compensation or legal costs...

Defence said that DLT and wife had to sell house to pay to defend himself...
Defence then addressed judge about possible starting points for sentence. "This single offence...does not cross custody threshold"...Defence said he thinks a "conditional discharge" would be most appropriate sentence. Not a fine.

[Zacs-Master]

Excellent decision.

[sandyRoe]

Well, he would say that, wouldn't he?
I don't know what sentence should be handed down but the fact that he's had to sell his house in order to fund the defence doesn't seem right.

[ChillDoubt]

Without trivialising what he did nor de-crying the seriousness and feelings of the victim, I know justice has to be done but nearly 2 years, 2 trials and one guilty verdict among a throng of charges, was it really 'in the public interest'?
As the lady neither sought compensation nor costs it doesn't feel as though there has been a 'winner', if you'll forgive the expression.

[sandyRoe]

I meant the defence team would say that.

[-Talbot-]

Whilst I

[jno]

so it's pretty much okay to assault women from now on, and women really needn't bother reporting it. That should save the justice system a lot of money, which can only be good.

[Khandro]

It's an appalling, sitting on the fence type sentence, the woman should have been reprimanded for stupidity and maliciousness, he's left in enormous debt and sort of guilty and yet not guilty of what - touching someone's tit?

[Baldric]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29372564

[Old_Geezer]

I figured it didn't seem severe enough for a custodial sentence. His costs are his own affair given that he was found guilty. I'd have thought community service would be applied though.

It probably was worth it as it sends out a message beyond the actual cases looked at here. I don't see how one can interpret this as being now ok to assault though.

[jackthehat]

I wonder if some of these cases shouldn't fall under the remit of 'Restorative Justice'?

In that way, the accused could meet the accuser, acknowledge his/her offences and between them decided what would be a 'fair' outcome, rather than going down the route of lengthy, costly trials.....

I know that there are a great many serious cases where a trial is the only proper course of action but perhaps RJ ought to be considered for those less serious?

[jackthehat]

Khandro - Sometimes it is better to remain silent and thought a fool, than to apply fingers to keyboard and remove all doubt...

[Old_Geezer]

One would need the accused to agree they were guilty for a non-court process to be of use.

[whiskeryron]

I have to say that like one or two other ABers I always look forward to jack the hat's answers, she always has a very fair & unbiased argument to put forward ( which is usually also my point of view).

Ron.

[-Talbot-]

(lapyop in garden went flat)
Whilst I actually support these historic investigations, I think this one went a step too far.

jth @ 11:35 Fri 26th Sep 2014., great post. Got to say I haven't seen much of the case, does DLT sound in anyway remorseful?

[ToraToraTora]

I think DLT as been disproportionalty punished by this whole episode.

[jackthehat]

Not publicly, no.
But perhaps in a 'one-to-one' situation with his accuser, he may have had the grace to concede that his behaviour had been inappropriate and offer a sincere apology.

[ToraToraTora]

"it doesn't feel as though there has been a 'winner'" - except the leaches in the legal profession eh chill!

[choux]

DLT must have thought it was worth paying those "leeches". He has his freedom and a roof over his head, albeit a smaller one than before. He was found guilty so I have no sympathy for him.

[youngmafbog]

Yep the only winners are the lawyers, no surprise there.

jno, what planet are you on?

[trt]

## Defence said that DLT and wife had to sell house to pay to defend himself... ##

Well if his defence feel that sorry for him, why didn't they lower their fees!!!!!