Everybody Happy ?

[bazwillrun]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-33252378

with the sentence thats is !

[youngmafbog]

Probably the best thing Andy - I can tell you!

[Retrochic]

ok she is now 55, so even if these incidents happened in the late eighties she would have been tops 25 -28 at the time of the offences. The boys were 15 and 13 -yes yes I know its wrong but come on? one of then said 'she was old enough to be my mother -where do they get that from? My OH says he lost his virginity at 16 to a 29 year old women -he thought that was great!

[andy-hughes]

So I understand!

Did you know that alcohol erodes the balance mechanisms in your ears, and that is why people are so unsteady on their feet after a few schnoofters.

But it's OK, because the next morning, as you wake up, two little men arrive with hammers and chisels and repair them for you!!

[andy-hughes]

Retrochic - //one of then said 'she was old enough to be my mother -where do they get that from?//

When you are a fifteen-year-old lad, an eighteen-year-old is a sophisticated older woman, and anyone over twenty-five is an old person!

[Old_Geezer]

It is a betrayal of trust, undoubtedly, but 8 years for giving out sex seems a little harsh to me.

One of the few things I find difficult not to be sexist about. I know at that age I'd have been grateful not feeling abused (provided it wasn't forced of course). Darn it, to feel someone wanted me would have done my confidence a world of good.

[Retrochic]

andy -I agree with you to a certain extent -when I was 18 the guys over 30 at the rugby club were classed as 'old codgers'. However, these guys were describing her as 'old enough to be my mother' in their victim impact statements or whatever you call them. They should have been reminded there was only around 10 years age difference .

[andy-hughes]

Retrochic - //andy -I agree with you to a certain extent -when I was 18 the guys over 30 at the rugby club were classed as 'old codgers'. However, these guys were describing her as 'old enough to be my mother' in their victim impact statements or whatever you call them. They should have been reminded there was only around 10 years age difference . //

I think the fact that the lady in question was an authority figure probably led them to add a degree of hyperbole to their statements - yes they are innacurate, but probably intended to convey a sense of colour to their statement, rather than a statement of provable fact.

[hc4361]

There's a photo of her in 2003. I imagine she was quite a looker in the 80s

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31928078

[mikey4444]

I am sure that the boys rather liked what was going on, as I am also sure that some of the underage girls abused by men have enjoyed it as well.

But that really isn't the point. When I was a teenage boy, I would have had a different view to what I have today, obviously. But this women was in a position of trust and she abused that position, for which she has to pay the penalty. Any other stance just isn't being realistic.

[Retrochic]

I don't think many would argue she should not 'pay a penalty' but personally I think 8 years is totally disproportionate considering some people get that for manslaughter.

[andy-hughes]

Retrochic - //I don't think many would argue she should not 'pay a penalty' but personally I think 8 years is totally disproportionate considering some people get that for manslaughter. //

Sentences for abuse by people in positions of trust are always really heavy - I think it is to send a message out to others thinking of offending that this is what they can accept.

I do not really agree that the notion of a 'deterrent' sentence actually works, but I still believe that this is the thinking behind it.