Girl provoked pedophile - judge

[Heracles 417]

What the hell is going on in that nation. The bad weather must be seriously eating at people's minds.

A PEDOPHILE who raped a 10-year-old girl will be free in just four months after a British judge said his victim had "dressed provocatively".

Window cleaner Keith Fenn, 24, could have been jailed for life after twice attacking the girl in a riverside park. Judge Julian Hall was at the centre of a storm over the "pathetic" sentence he imposed after hearing the girl had appeared much older than her age. The same judge caused uproar earlier this year by setting free another paedophile and telling him to give his victim money "to buy a nice new bicycle".

In the latest case, Oxford Crown Court heard harrowing details of the assault on the 10-year-old. She was attacked in a park in South Oxfordshire by Fenn and his accomplice Darren Wright, 34, on October 14 last year.

Fenn removed all her clothes and raped her, then Wright took her to his home and sexually assaulted her.

Yet Judge Hall said the case was exceptional because the "young woman" had been wearing a frilly bra and thong.

The girl has been in local authority care since the age of four.

She was on her own when she met the pair in the street. They went to the park together. The judge said he faced a moral dilemma.

The court heard that the girl regularly wore make-up, strappy tops and jeans.

"It is quite clear she is a very disturbed child and a very needy child and she is a sexually precocious child. She liked to dress provocatively," the judge said.

"Did she look like she was 10? Certainly not. She looked 16."

He gave Fenn concurrent two-year and 18-month sentences but he will be free in just weeks after spending eight months in jail awaiting sentence.

Wright is a free man because he too had served eight months on remand.

Yesterday Dr Michele Elliott, of Kidscape, said: "This is beyond pathetic, it is utterly derisory. For the judge to say that the way she was dressed in any way excuses a 24-year-old man having sex with her is disgraceful and ridiculous."

Fenn admitted two counts of rape of a child under 13 and Wright admitted one charge of causing or inciting sexual activity with a child aged under 13.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21969117-2,00.html

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

The judge needs to have a baseball bat driven up his behind. All the way!

[trueimage 0]

So what if she looked 16? Rape is rape and 16 is still a child. These are grown men!!! OMG!!!! Unbelievable!

[Heracles 417]

This is what happens when we let the judge solely decide on the appropriate justice. Come to think of it this is a great example of why minimum sentencing works; which was criticized in another thread..

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

The judge needs to have a baseball bat driven up his behind. All the way!

I think he already has and loved it! What a TOOL.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I'll bet that judge uses a ####### pump in court.

[Heracles 417]

While kids dressing provocatively is a whole other issue, he was 24. The child apparently looking 16 is irrelevant.

[archie07 0]

While kids dressing provocatively is a whole other issue, he was 24. The child apparently looking 16 is irrelevant.

This was a heinous crime and regardless of how this girl dressed she was 10 years old. The maximum possible sentence was justifiable in this case, not the minimun. That judge should be disbarred.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

From another version of the story

Attorney General Lord Goldsmith is to decide whether the sentence should be appealed against as "unduly lenient".

[eric&gen 0]

What a moron who knows maybe the judge is a pedophile him self

[GaryC 7]

Take a look Steven, this is why mandatory minimums need to be in place. Most judges are rational and fair. But you need minimums to combat the loony tune judges like this.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Take a look Steven, this is why mandatory minimums need to be in place. Most judges are rational and fair. But you need minimums to combat the loony tune judges like this.

But there are still appeals processes. If there are no hidden surprises in the presentation of the case its very likely that the ruling will be overturned.

[GaryC 7]

Take a look Steven, this is why mandatory minimums need to be in place. Most judges are rational and fair. But you need minimums to combat the loony tune judges like this.

But there are still appeals processes. If there are no hidden surprises in the presentation of the case its very likely that the ruling will be overturned.

I am not familiar with the UK justice system. A judgment can be appealed and the sentence raised?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Take a look Steven, this is why mandatory minimums need to be in place. Most judges are rational and fair. But you need minimums to combat the loony tune judges like this.

But there are still appeals processes. If there are no hidden surprises in the presentation of the case its very likely that the ruling will be overturned.

I am not familiar with the UK justice system. A judgment can be appealed and the sentence raised?

Yes. The Attorney General and the Home Office can review judgments.

Otherwise the guy who got sentenced "to be hung by the neck until dead" a few years ago would have been in a sticky situation (judge had no legal authority to impose the death penalty).

[archie07 0]

Take a look Steven, this is why mandatory minimums need to be in place. Most judges are rational and fair. But you need minimums to combat the loony tune judges like this.

But there are still appeals processes. If there are no hidden surprises in the presentation of the case its very likely that the ruling will be overturned.

I am not familiar with the UK justice system. A judgment can be appealed and the sentence raised?

Yes. The Attorney General and the Home Office can review judgments.

Otherwise the guy who got sentenced "to be hung by the neck until dead" a few years ago would have been in a sticky situation (judge had no legal authority to impose the death penalty).

From State Of Florida Crime Sentencing Guidelines

Sexual Battery

(under 12 Yrs of age)

Capital Felony, Life without Parole