Plus ca change

[Jumbuck]

http://www.timesonlin...me/article6934176.ece

If I nicked £1.6 million from a charity and spent it all, would I only get a suspended sentence? Just wondering if it's worth giving it a go.

[vulcan]

I noticed the judge didn't mention the other mitigating circumstance, the person was a member of the aristocracy. If you're not a member Jumbuck than would suggest it's not worth it.

[daffy654]

I doubt you would be spared prison jumbuck,this guy wasn't:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8381968.stm

[jake-the-peg]

Don't know

But then you're probably not as trustworthy - Johnathon Davies was a merchant banker after all

Do you think if I were convicted of murdering my fiance I'd get to go to an open prison?

[jake-the-peg]

Can you believe the judge said this though?

“Equally, I am not convinced your imprisonment would be a deterrent to others in your position because anyone who is a trustee in a charity can be expected to be guided by his own sense of decency and honesty.”

Not seen the context and don't know the details but it seems an extraordinary thing to say - has he forgotten Robert Maxwell and the Mirror pensioners?

[Jumbuck]

vulcan42 - some people call me a member, just not of the aristocracy

daffy654 - 300K is just peanuts, not worth getting out of bed for, it needs to be done on a grander scale

jake-the-peg - perhaps the judge had his trouser leg at half-mast or something like that.

[jno]

I think you'd be okay, Your Grace.

[jake-the-peg]

Well I do lambast others for jumping to conclusions on skimpy newspaper reports so mindful of that I'd just say that I hope the CPS are considering whether an appeal against the sentence is appropriate.

Anybody know if he has Aspergers? ;c)

[VHG]

>The sentence was suspended probably because there was no direct victim,

So anybody can steal from a charity without fear of going to prison.

[fredpuli47]

Goodness knows what his ill health must be. Is he at death's door, brought to court in an ambulance?
The sentence is grotesquely wrong. .It's a breach of trust on a massive scale. Breach of trust by anyone who handles money or has access to bank accounts is a serious matter, always visited by immediate imprisonment.A postman who steals letters goes to jail, whether or not he has struck lucky and found the ones with money or postal orders in.
This man's case is far worse than that. He's stealing large sums of money which are intended for charitable purposes and of which he is the trusted custodian. The sentence should be appealed. It's certainly a case which merits 4 years even on a plea of guilty. The guilty plea doesn't bring much discount because the case against him would prove itself on the papers; he's not got a run fighting it.

[Jumbuck]

By the way, is Ronnie Biggs still alive? He was let out on compassionate grounds because of ill health, so has he snuffed it yet?