• Why those underage rapists avoided custodial sentences

    From The Todal@the_todal@icloud.com to uk.legal.moderated on Fri Jun 5 19:16:49 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.legal.moderated

    It's in here, the judge's sentencing remarks. His Honour Judge Rowland,
    using words that children can understand. Impressed?

    https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Case-No-44SC0053025-T20257005.pdf

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  • From Jethro@jethro_UK@hotmailbin.com to uk.legal.moderated on Fri Jun 5 19:37:51 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.legal.moderated

    On Fri, 05 Jun 2026 19:16:49 +0100, The Todal wrote:

    It's in here, the judge's sentencing remarks. His Honour Judge Rowland,
    using words that children can understand. Impressed?

    https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Case-No-44SC0053025-
    T20257005.pdf

    It seems to strongly suggest they should not have faced criminal
    charges ...

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  • From Jeff Layman@Jeff@invalid.invalid to uk.legal.moderated on Sat Jun 6 09:02:11 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.legal.moderated

    On 05/06/2026 19:16, The Todal wrote:
    It's in here, the judge's sentencing remarks. His Honour Judge Rowland,
    using words that children can understand. Impressed?

    https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Case-No-44SC0053025-T20257005.pdf

    Very detailed, and, the judge points out, a difficult case.

    A couple of points, one of which I raised in the other thread. Is there
    a specific meaning for the term "criminalising" in law? This word was mentioned a lot of times in media reports and comments. The only mention
    in the sentencing remarks is at 10E "I should avoid criminalising these children unnecessarily...". However, as by the time he wrote these
    comments they were criminals in the eyes of the law having just been
    found guilty of rape and other offences, aren't they already /serious/ criminals? Also, on that basis, any idea why there is no mention of them
    being placed on the Sexual Offences Register?

    The other point concerns "J" and "N". The judge noted with respect to J
    (14B):
    "He has been assessed by the Youth Justice Services, presenting a medium
    risk in terms of reoffending and causing harm, but high risk of serious
    harm to female children."

    And, at 15H with respect to N:
    "He is assessed as presenting a medium risk of reoffending but high risk
    of harm to young females."

    Isn't this rather a red flag? How else could another offence of this
    sort against young females be prevented by anything other than a
    custodial sentence?
    --
    Jeff

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  • From Spike@aero.spike@mail.com to uk.legal.moderated on Sat Jun 6 16:05:05 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.legal.moderated

    Roger Hayter <roger@hayter.org> wrote:
    On 6 Jun 2026 at 09:02:11 BST, "Jeff Layman" <Jeff@invalid.invalid> wrote:

    On 05/06/2026 19:16, The Todal wrote:
    It's in here, the judge's sentencing remarks. His Honour Judge Rowland,
    using words that children can understand. Impressed?

    https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Case-No-44SC0053025-T20257005.pdf

    Very detailed, and, the judge points out, a difficult case.

    A couple of points, one of which I raised in the other thread. Is there
    a specific meaning for the term "criminalising" in law? This word was
    mentioned a lot of times in media reports and comments. The only mention
    in the sentencing remarks is at 10E "I should avoid criminalising these
    children unnecessarily...". However, as by the time he wrote these
    comments they were criminals in the eyes of the law having just been
    found guilty of rape and other offences, aren't they already /serious/
    criminals? Also, on that basis, any idea why there is no mention of them
    being placed on the Sexual Offences Register?

    The other point concerns "J" and "N". The judge noted with respect to J
    (14B):
    "He has been assessed by the Youth Justice Services, presenting a medium
    risk in terms of reoffending and causing harm, but high risk of serious
    harm to female children."

    And, at 15H with respect to N:
    "He is assessed as presenting a medium risk of reoffending but high risk
    of harm to young females."

    Isn't this rather a red flag? How else could another offence of this
    sort against young females be prevented by anything other than a
    custodial sentence?

    I am not sure to what extent this answers your point, but he later says that he would have had to consider a custodial sentence had the boy(s) been assessed as having a "very high" risk of harm to young females.

    The judge may well have produced well-constructed sentencing remarks, but surely, considering there are occasions where judges wish to rCysend a messagerCO and sentence accordingly, the wider commenting on this aspect of
    the case suggests that this opportunity was missed.

    ItrCOs not hard to see why VAWG is so prevalent in the minds of people. Protests at the Bell Hotel in Epping were still going on a few weeks ago,
    some ten months after they started, despite all rCythe authoritiesrCO did to bring them to an end.
    --
    Spike

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  • From Mark Goodge@usenet@listmail.good-stuff.co.uk to uk.legal.moderated on Sun Jun 7 22:41:23 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.legal.moderated

    On Sat, 6 Jun 2026 09:02:11 +0100, Jeff Layman <Jeff@invalid.invalid> wrote:

    Isn't this rather a red flag? How else could another offence of this
    sort against young females be prevented by anything other than a
    custodial sentence?

    In this particular case, a curfew, electronic tagging and intense
    supervision (including compulsory attendance at training). It's essentially three years of house arrest.

    Mark

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  • From Jeff Layman@Jeff@invalid.invalid to uk.legal.moderated on Mon Jun 8 08:10:10 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.legal.moderated

    On 07/06/2026 22:41, Mark Goodge wrote:
    On Sat, 6 Jun 2026 09:02:11 +0100, Jeff Layman <Jeff@invalid.invalid> wrote:

    Isn't this rather a red flag? How else could another offence of this
    sort against young females be prevented by anything other than a
    custodial sentence?

    In this particular case, a curfew, electronic tagging and intense
    supervision (including compulsory attendance at training). It's essentially three years of house arrest.

    It's not clear in the sentencing remarks, but it looks like the offences
    were not done at night or evening, so a curfew might have little effect
    for further offences. In any case, the curfew for J would not start
    until 8pm, and in winter it's dark at 5pm.

    A tag might link a subject to a crime, but it won't necessarily prevent
    it in time, which is what a custodial sentence would do.

    Another problem in this particular case would be the low intelligence of
    the offendants; would they understand what the curfew and tagging is
    for, or would they ignore it?
    --
    Jeff

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  • From Jethro@jethro_UK@hotmailbin.com to uk.legal.moderated on Mon Jun 8 09:27:28 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.legal.moderated

    On Mon, 08 Jun 2026 08:10:10 +0100, Jeff Layman wrote:

    Another problem in this particular case would be the low intelligence of
    the offendants; would they understand what the curfew and tagging is
    for,
    or would they ignore it?

    If someone cannot understand the nature of the punishment they have been served, then surely it is up for debate as to whetehr they comprehended
    the nature of their actions.

    It seems to me a picture of Schrodingers scrotes is emerging. Not so
    thick as to be not held respobsuble, but so thick as to get off lightly.

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  • From Jon Ribbens@jon+usenet@unequivocal.eu to uk.legal.moderated on Mon Jun 8 10:34:16 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.legal.moderated

    On 2026-06-08, Jethro <jethro_UK@hotmailbin.com> wrote:
    On Mon, 08 Jun 2026 08:10:10 +0100, Jeff Layman wrote:

    Another problem in this particular case would be the low intelligence of
    the offendants; would they understand what the curfew and tagging is
    for,
    or would they ignore it?

    If someone cannot understand the nature of the punishment they have been served, then surely it is up for debate as to whetehr they comprehended
    the nature of their actions.

    It seems to me a picture of Schrodingers scrotes is emerging. Not so
    thick as to be not held respobsuble, but so thick as to get off lightly.

    Just like Schr||dinger's President, who is apparently not demented enough
    for it to be a bad idea to let him be in control of nuclear missiles,
    but would immediately be far too demented to face justice if there
    appeared to be any danger of that happening.

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  • From GB@NotSomeone@Microsoft.Invalid to uk.legal.moderated on Mon Jun 8 12:52:00 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.legal.moderated

    On 08/06/2026 11:34, Jon Ribbens wrote:
    On 2026-06-08, Jethro <jethro_UK@hotmailbin.com> wrote:
    On Mon, 08 Jun 2026 08:10:10 +0100, Jeff Layman wrote:

    Another problem in this particular case would be the low intelligence of >>> the offendants; would they understand what the curfew and tagging is
    for,
    or would they ignore it?

    If someone cannot understand the nature of the punishment they have been
    served, then surely it is up for debate as to whetehr they comprehended
    the nature of their actions.

    It seems to me a picture of Schrodingers scrotes is emerging. Not so
    thick as to be not held respobsuble, but so thick as to get off lightly.

    Just like Schr||dinger's President, who is apparently not demented enough
    for it to be a bad idea to let him be in control of nuclear missiles,
    but would immediately be far too demented to face justice if there
    appeared to be any danger of that happening.



    I'm strongly in favour of Donald T, as he's the only thing standing
    between JD Vance and the presidency.

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  • From Max Demian@max_demian@bigfoot.com to uk.legal.moderated on Mon Jun 8 12:19:51 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.legal.moderated

    On 07/06/2026 22:41, Mark Goodge wrote:
    On Sat, 6 Jun 2026 09:02:11 +0100, Jeff Layman <Jeff@invalid.invalid> wrote:

    Isn't this rather a red flag? How else could another offence of this
    sort against young females be prevented by anything other than a
    custodial sentence?

    In this particular case, a curfew, electronic tagging and intense
    supervision (including compulsory attendance at training). It's essentially three years of house arrest.

    How do you train people to tell the difference between rape and
    consensual sex when it's so blurred?
    --
    Max Demian

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  • From The Todal@the_todal@icloud.com to uk.legal.moderated on Mon Jun 8 22:10:34 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.legal.moderated

    On 08/06/2026 12:19, Max Demian wrote:
    On 07/06/2026 22:41, Mark Goodge wrote:
    On Sat, 6 Jun 2026 09:02:11 +0100, Jeff Layman <Jeff@invalid.invalid>
    wrote:

    Isn't this rather a red flag? How else could another offence of this
    sort against young females be prevented by anything other than a
    custodial sentence?

    In this particular case, a curfew, electronic tagging and intense
    supervision (including compulsory attendance at training). It's
    essentially
    three years of house arrest.

    How do you train people to tell the difference between rape and
    consensual sex when it's so blurred?


    Did you watch the Panorama programme about David Sullivan? One woman
    after another complaining that seedy David asked for sex and some women
    did what he asked, others made their excuses and left. I don't think
    there was anything that amounted to rape. Just seediness and
    exploitation. I don't think it is surprising that the police did not see
    any reason to prosecute. Others may disagree?

    See also https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/jun/08/revealed-david-sullivan-sunday-sport-sold-sexualised-images-girls

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  • From Norman Wells@hex@unseen.ac.am to uk.legal.moderated on Tue Jun 9 08:05:36 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.legal.moderated

    On 08/06/2026 22:10, The Todal wrote:
    On 08/06/2026 12:19, Max Demian wrote:
    On 07/06/2026 22:41, Mark Goodge wrote:
    On Sat, 6 Jun 2026 09:02:11 +0100, Jeff Layman <Jeff@invalid.invalid>
    wrote:

    Isn't this rather a red flag? How else could another offence of this
    sort against young females be prevented by anything other than a
    custodial sentence?

    In this particular case, a curfew, electronic tagging and intense
    supervision (including compulsory attendance at training). It's
    essentially
    three years of house arrest.

    How do you train people to tell the difference between rape and
    consensual sex when it's so blurred?


    Did you watch the Panorama programme about David Sullivan? One woman
    after another complaining that seedy David asked for sex and some women
    did what he asked, others made their excuses and left. I don't think
    there was anything that amounted to rape. Just seediness and
    exploitation. I don't think it is surprising that the police did not see
    any reason to prosecute. Others may disagree?

    See also https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/jun/08/revealed-david-sullivan- sunday-sport-sold-sexualised-images-girls


    It's all pretty hypocritical. The women who complained knowingly wanted
    to get into the sleazy business but didn't want the sleaze.

    Sorry, my view is, it comes with the territory, luv.


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  • From GB@NotSomeone@Microsoft.Invalid to uk.legal.moderated on Tue Jun 9 13:46:37 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.legal.moderated

    On 08/06/2026 22:10, The Todal wrote:
    On 08/06/2026 12:19, Max Demian wrote:
    On 07/06/2026 22:41, Mark Goodge wrote:
    On Sat, 6 Jun 2026 09:02:11 +0100, Jeff Layman <Jeff@invalid.invalid>
    wrote:

    Isn't this rather a red flag? How else could another offence of this
    sort against young females be prevented by anything other than a
    custodial sentence?

    In this particular case, a curfew, electronic tagging and intense
    supervision (including compulsory attendance at training). It's
    essentially
    three years of house arrest.

    How do you train people to tell the difference between rape and
    consensual sex when it's so blurred?


    Did you watch the Panorama programme about David Sullivan? One woman
    after another complaining that seedy David asked for sex and some women
    did what he asked, others made their excuses and left. I don't think
    there was anything that amounted to rape. Just seediness and
    exploitation. I don't think it is surprising that the police did not see
    any reason to prosecute. Others may disagree?


    I don't really understand what you think he could have been prosecuted for?

    What is also perplexing is why he's threatening to sue, and why he's now
    too tainted by these allegations to chair west ham?


    See also https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/jun/08/revealed-david-sullivan- sunday-sport-sold-sexualised-images-girls



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  • From Jon Ribbens@jon+usenet@unequivocal.eu to uk.legal.moderated on Tue Jun 9 17:40:12 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.legal.moderated

    On 2026-06-09, GB <NotSomeone@Microsoft.Invalid> wrote:
    On 08/06/2026 22:10, The Todal wrote:
    On 08/06/2026 12:19, Max Demian wrote:
    On 07/06/2026 22:41, Mark Goodge wrote:
    On Sat, 6 Jun 2026 09:02:11 +0100, Jeff Layman <Jeff@invalid.invalid> >>>> wrote:
    Isn't this rather a red flag? How else could another offence of this >>>>> sort against young females be prevented by anything other than a
    custodial sentence?

    In this particular case, a curfew, electronic tagging and intense
    supervision (including compulsory attendance at training). It's
    essentially
    three years of house arrest.

    How do you train people to tell the difference between rape and
    consensual sex when it's so blurred?

    Did you watch the Panorama programme about David Sullivan? One woman
    after another complaining that seedy David asked for sex and some women
    did what he asked, others made their excuses and left. I don't think
    there was anything that amounted to rape. Just seediness and
    exploitation. I don't think it is surprising that the police did not see
    any reason to prosecute. Others may disagree?

    I don't really understand what you think he could have been prosecuted
    for?

    Todal said he *didn't* think there was any reason to prosecute.

    What is also perplexing is why he's threatening to sue, and why he's now
    too tainted by these allegations to chair west ham?

    Well they certainly seem like defamatory allegations if they turned out
    not to be true.

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  • From The Todal@the_todal@icloud.com to uk.legal.moderated on Tue Jun 9 18:49:31 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.legal.moderated

    On 09/06/2026 13:46, GB wrote:
    On 08/06/2026 22:10, The Todal wrote:
    On 08/06/2026 12:19, Max Demian wrote:
    On 07/06/2026 22:41, Mark Goodge wrote:
    On Sat, 6 Jun 2026 09:02:11 +0100, Jeff Layman
    <Jeff@invalid.invalid> wrote:

    Isn't this rather a red flag? How else could another offence of this >>>>> sort against young females be prevented by anything other than a
    custodial sentence?

    In this particular case, a curfew, electronic tagging and intense
    supervision (including compulsory attendance at training). It's
    essentially
    three years of house arrest.

    How do you train people to tell the difference between rape and
    consensual sex when it's so blurred?


    Did you watch the Panorama programme about David Sullivan? One woman
    after another complaining that seedy David asked for sex and some
    women did what he asked, others made their excuses and left. I don't
    think there was anything that amounted to rape. Just seediness and
    exploitation. I don't think it is surprising that the police did not
    see any reason to prosecute. Others may disagree?


    I don't really understand what you think he could have been prosecuted for?

    I thought my post was clear - I can't see anything that he could be
    prosecuted for, and I wondered if anyone else could suggest a relevant offence. Maybe a new offence of "dressing scruffily"?

    The tenor of the programme was to make Sullivan seem like Harvey
    Weinstein, trying to have sex with women in exchange for giving them a
    job. But Weinstein overpowered and raped women. Sullivan simply backed
    away when the women refused. I think one woman thought she may have said
    she didn't want to do it while he was having intercourse with her, but
    she wasn't absolutely sure, and of course in law the belief of the
    defendant that there is consent is a valid defence. I thought "what, not
    even a blow job?" was actually rather funny. A line worthy of Ricky Gervais.



    What is also perplexing is why he's threatening to sue, and why he's now
    too tainted by these allegations to chair west ham?


    See also
    https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/jun/08/revealed-david-sullivan-
    sunday-sport-sold-sexualised-images-girls





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  • From Roger Hayter@roger@hayter.org to uk.legal.moderated on Sat Jun 6 10:45:43 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.legal.moderated

    On 6 Jun 2026 at 09:02:11 BST, "Jeff Layman" <Jeff@invalid.invalid> wrote:

    On 05/06/2026 19:16, The Todal wrote:
    It's in here, the judge's sentencing remarks. His Honour Judge Rowland,
    using words that children can understand. Impressed?

    https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Case-No-44SC0053025-T20257005.pdf

    Very detailed, and, the judge points out, a difficult case.

    A couple of points, one of which I raised in the other thread. Is there
    a specific meaning for the term "criminalising" in law? This word was mentioned a lot of times in media reports and comments. The only mention
    in the sentencing remarks is at 10E "I should avoid criminalising these children unnecessarily...". However, as by the time he wrote these
    comments they were criminals in the eyes of the law having just been
    found guilty of rape and other offences, aren't they already /serious/ criminals? Also, on that basis, any idea why there is no mention of them being placed on the Sexual Offences Register?

    The other point concerns "J" and "N". The judge noted with respect to J (14B):
    "He has been assessed by the Youth Justice Services, presenting a medium
    risk in terms of reoffending and causing harm, but high risk of serious
    harm to female children."

    And, at 15H with respect to N:
    "He is assessed as presenting a medium risk of reoffending but high risk
    of harm to young females."

    Isn't this rather a red flag? How else could another offence of this
    sort against young females be prevented by anything other than a
    custodial sentence?

    I am not sure to what extent this answers your point, but he later says that
    he would have had to consider a custodial sentence had the boy(s) been
    assessed as having a "very high" risk of harm to young females.
    --

    Roger Hayter

    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Jeff Layman@Jeff@invalid.invalid to uk.legal.moderated on Sat Jun 6 14:59:31 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.legal.moderated

    On 06/06/2026 11:45, Roger Hayter wrote:
    On 6 Jun 2026 at 09:02:11 BST, "Jeff Layman" <Jeff@invalid.invalid> wrote:

    On 05/06/2026 19:16, The Todal wrote:
    It's in here, the judge's sentencing remarks. His Honour Judge Rowland,
    using words that children can understand. Impressed?

    https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Case-No-44SC0053025-T20257005.pdf

    Very detailed, and, the judge points out, a difficult case.

    A couple of points, one of which I raised in the other thread. Is there
    a specific meaning for the term "criminalising" in law? This word was
    mentioned a lot of times in media reports and comments. The only mention
    in the sentencing remarks is at 10E "I should avoid criminalising these
    children unnecessarily...". However, as by the time he wrote these
    comments they were criminals in the eyes of the law having just been
    found guilty of rape and other offences, aren't they already /serious/
    criminals? Also, on that basis, any idea why there is no mention of them
    being placed on the Sexual Offences Register?

    The other point concerns "J" and "N". The judge noted with respect to J
    (14B):
    "He has been assessed by the Youth Justice Services, presenting a medium
    risk in terms of reoffending and causing harm, but high risk of serious
    harm to female children."

    And, at 15H with respect to N:
    "He is assessed as presenting a medium risk of reoffending but high risk
    of harm to young females."

    Isn't this rather a red flag? How else could another offence of this
    sort against young females be prevented by anything other than a
    custodial sentence?

    I am not sure to what extent this answers your point, but he later says that he would have had to consider a custodial sentence had the boy(s) been assessed as having a "very high" risk of harm to young females.

    Good point. So his decision might have come down to the difference
    between high and very high risk. Even so, he would still only have had
    to /consider/ a custodial sentence if it was very high. Would it have to
    be "inevitable" to be considered custodial, and how would that be
    decided on?
    --
    Jeff

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  • From Norman Wells@hex@unseen.ac.am to uk.legal.moderated on Tue Jun 9 19:24:48 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.legal.moderated

    On 09/06/2026 13:46, GB wrote:
    On 08/06/2026 22:10, The Todal wrote:

    Did you watch the Panorama programme about David Sullivan? One woman
    after another complaining that seedy David asked for sex and some
    women did what he asked, others made their excuses and left. I don't
    think there was anything that amounted to rape. Just seediness and
    exploitation. I don't think it is surprising that the police did not
    see any reason to prosecute. Others may disagree?

    I don't really understand what you think he could have been prosecuted for?

    What is also perplexing is why he's threatening to sue, and why he's now
    too tainted by these allegations to chair west ham?

    Sadly, these days, no proof or actual evidence of anything illegal is required. It's apparently sufficient just to make unsupported
    allegations about any sort of behaviour you may have encountered, even
    in retrospect after decades of complete silence when you just got on
    with your life. As long as you call it 'inappropriate' and for bonus
    points mention 'mental health', that is sufficient in itself to condemn,
    and for the 'perpetrator' to be shunned and severely punished by society.

    It's what did for Andrew, after all.

    I suppose it does away with the inconvenience of trials, but I don't
    really approve.




    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From RJH@patchmoney@gmx.com to uk.legal.moderated on Wed Jun 10 07:40:32 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.legal.moderated

    On 9 Jun 2026 at 18:49:31 BST, The Todal wrote:

    On 09/06/2026 13:46, GB wrote:
    On 08/06/2026 22:10, The Todal wrote:
    On 08/06/2026 12:19, Max Demian wrote:
    On 07/06/2026 22:41, Mark Goodge wrote:
    On Sat, 6 Jun 2026 09:02:11 +0100, Jeff Layman
    <Jeff@invalid.invalid> wrote:

    Isn't this rather a red flag? How else could another offence of this >>>>>> sort against young females be prevented by anything other than a
    custodial sentence?

    In this particular case, a curfew, electronic tagging and intense
    supervision (including compulsory attendance at training). It's
    essentially
    three years of house arrest.

    How do you train people to tell the difference between rape and
    consensual sex when it's so blurred?


    Did you watch the Panorama programme about David Sullivan? One woman
    after another complaining that seedy David asked for sex and some
    women did what he asked, others made their excuses and left. I don't
    think there was anything that amounted to rape. Just seediness and
    exploitation. I don't think it is surprising that the police did not
    see any reason to prosecute. Others may disagree?


    I don't really understand what you think he could have been prosecuted for?

    I thought my post was clear - I can't see anything that he could be prosecuted for, and I wondered if anyone else could suggest a relevant offence. Maybe a new offence of "dressing scruffily"?


    My understanding of these sorts of cases - where historical sexual assault is alleged but not witnessed - is that the prosecution is built in large part by
    a form of triangulation. The alleged victims' accounts are compiled, and details that could only be known by a victim, and details consistent with sexual assault, are checked across accounts and if there's a correlation, the prosecution starts to have purchase.

    So maybe this programme was a nod to that line of enquiry?

    The tenor of the programme was to make Sullivan seem like Harvey
    Weinstein, trying to have sex with women in exchange for giving them a
    job. But Weinstein overpowered and raped women. Sullivan simply backed
    away when the women refused. I think one woman thought she may have said
    she didn't want to do it while he was having intercourse with her, but
    she wasn't absolutely sure, and of course in law the belief of the
    defendant that there is consent is a valid defence. I thought "what, not
    even a blow job?" was actually rather funny. A line worthy of Ricky Gervais.


    The inference was that he used his power and influence in much the same way as Weinstein? Which to some makes his behaviour no less disgusting. YMMV.



    What is also perplexing is why he's threatening to sue, and why he's now
    too tainted by these allegations to chair west ham?


    Probably down at least in part to the reactions of people associating him with sexual assault. Hardly a good business model. And for somebody in a leadership role, could he would he be respected by women in particular, and everybody
    else in general?


    See also
    https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/jun/08/revealed-david-sullivan-
    sunday-sport-sold-sexualised-images-girls



    --
    Cheers, Rob
    Sheffield, UK

    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From GB@NotSomeone@Microsoft.Invalid to uk.legal.moderated on Wed Jun 10 11:35:33 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.legal.moderated

    On 09/06/2026 18:49, The Todal wrote:
    On 09/06/2026 13:46, GB wrote:
    On 08/06/2026 22:10, The Todal wrote:
    On 08/06/2026 12:19, Max Demian wrote:
    On 07/06/2026 22:41, Mark Goodge wrote:
    On Sat, 6 Jun 2026 09:02:11 +0100, Jeff Layman
    <Jeff@invalid.invalid> wrote:

    Isn't this rather a red flag? How else could another offence of this >>>>>> sort against young females be prevented by anything other than a
    custodial sentence?

    In this particular case, a curfew, electronic tagging and intense
    supervision (including compulsory attendance at training). It's
    essentially
    three years of house arrest.

    How do you train people to tell the difference between rape and
    consensual sex when it's so blurred?


    Did you watch the Panorama programme about David Sullivan? One woman
    after another complaining that seedy David asked for sex and some
    women did what he asked, others made their excuses and left. I don't
    think there was anything that amounted to rape. Just seediness and
    exploitation. I don't think it is surprising that the police did not
    see any reason to prosecute. Others may disagree?


    I don't really understand what you think he could have been prosecuted
    for?

    I thought my post was clear - I can't see anything that he could be prosecuted for, and I wondered if anyone else could suggest a relevant offence. Maybe a new offence of "dressing scruffily"?


    You're right. I misread.

    The tenor of the programme was to make Sullivan seem like Harvey
    Weinstein, trying to have sex with women in exchange for giving them a
    job. But Weinstein overpowered and raped women. Sullivan simply backed
    away when the women refused. I think one woman thought she may have said
    she didn't want to do it while he was having intercourse with her, but
    she wasn't absolutely sure, and of course in law the belief of the
    defendant that there is consent is a valid defence. I thought "what, not even a blow job?" was actually rather funny. A line worthy of Ricky
    Gervais.



    What is also perplexing is why he's threatening to sue, and why he's
    now too tainted by these allegations to chair west ham?


    See also
    https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/jun/08/revealed-david-
    sullivan- sunday-sport-sold-sexualised-images-girls







    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Max Demian@max_demian@bigfoot.com to uk.legal.moderated on Wed Jun 10 14:12:37 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.legal.moderated

    On 09/06/2026 18:40, Jon Ribbens wrote:
    On 2026-06-09, GB <NotSomeone@Microsoft.Invalid> wrote:
    On 08/06/2026 22:10, The Todal wrote:
    On 08/06/2026 12:19, Max Demian wrote:
    On 07/06/2026 22:41, Mark Goodge wrote:
    On Sat, 6 Jun 2026 09:02:11 +0100, Jeff Layman <Jeff@invalid.invalid> >>>>> wrote:
    Isn't this rather a red flag? How else could another offence of this >>>>>> sort against young females be prevented by anything other than a
    custodial sentence?

    In this particular case, a curfew, electronic tagging and intense
    supervision (including compulsory attendance at training). It's
    essentially
    three years of house arrest.

    How do you train people to tell the difference between rape and
    consensual sex when it's so blurred?

    Did you watch the Panorama programme about David Sullivan? One woman
    after another complaining that seedy David asked for sex and some women
    did what he asked, others made their excuses and left. I don't think
    there was anything that amounted to rape. Just seediness and
    exploitation. I don't think it is surprising that the police did not see >>> any reason to prosecute. Others may disagree?

    I don't really understand what you think he could have been prosecuted
    for?

    Todal said he *didn't* think there was any reason to prosecute.

    What is also perplexing is why he's threatening to sue, and why he's now
    too tainted by these allegations to chair west ham?

    Well they certainly seem like defamatory allegations if they turned out
    not to be true.

    In this case, the defamatory statement could be a matter of opinion, or approval. "Inveterate womaniser" could be an insult or praise.
    --
    Max Demian

    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Max Demian@max_demian@bigfoot.com to uk.legal.moderated on Wed Jun 10 14:15:18 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.legal.moderated

    On 09/06/2026 19:24, Norman Wells wrote:
    On 09/06/2026 13:46, GB wrote:
    On 08/06/2026 22:10, The Todal wrote:

    Did you watch the Panorama programme about David Sullivan? One woman
    after another complaining that seedy David asked for sex and some
    women did what he asked, others made their excuses and left. I don't
    think there was anything that amounted to rape. Just seediness and
    exploitation. I don't think it is surprising that the police did not
    see any reason to prosecute. Others may disagree?

    I don't really understand what you think he could have been prosecuted
    for?

    What is also perplexing is why he's threatening to sue, and why he's
    now too tainted by these allegations to chair west ham?

    Sadly, these days, no proof or actual evidence of anything illegal is required.-a It's apparently sufficient just to make unsupported
    allegations about any sort of behaviour you may have encountered, even
    in retrospect after decades of complete silence when you just got on
    with your life.-a As long as you call it 'inappropriate' and for bonus points mention 'mental health', that is sufficient in itself to condemn,
    and for the 'perpetrator' to be shunned and severely punished by society.

    It's what did for Andrew, after all.

    It's sibling rivalry with the King that "did for" Andrew, who was always
    their mother's favourite.
    --
    Max Demian

    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From GB@NOTsomeone@microsoft.invalid to uk.legal.moderated on Wed Jun 10 16:27:10 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.legal.moderated

    On 09/06/2026 18:40, Jon Ribbens wrote:

    What is also perplexing is why he's threatening to sue, and why he's now
    too tainted by these allegations to chair west ham?

    Well they certainly seem like defamatory allegations if they turned out
    not to be true.


    To be defamatory, don't statements need to reduce the reputation of the
    person they are being made about? Perhaps I'm too cynical ...


    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Jon Ribbens@jon+usenet@unequivocal.eu to uk.legal.moderated on Wed Jun 10 18:44:01 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.legal.moderated

    On 2026-06-10, Max Demian <max_demian@bigfoot.com> wrote:
    On 09/06/2026 18:40, Jon Ribbens wrote:
    On 2026-06-09, GB <NotSomeone@Microsoft.Invalid> wrote:
    On 08/06/2026 22:10, The Todal wrote:
    Did you watch the Panorama programme about David Sullivan? One woman
    after another complaining that seedy David asked for sex and some women >>>> did what he asked, others made their excuses and left. I don't think
    there was anything that amounted to rape. Just seediness and
    exploitation. I don't think it is surprising that the police did not see >>>> any reason to prosecute. Others may disagree?

    I don't really understand what you think he could have been prosecuted
    for?

    Todal said he *didn't* think there was any reason to prosecute.

    What is also perplexing is why he's threatening to sue, and why he's now >>> too tainted by these allegations to chair west ham?

    Well they certainly seem like defamatory allegations if they turned out
    not to be true.

    In this case, the defamatory statement could be a matter of opinion, or approval. "Inveterate womaniser" could be an insult or praise.

    I haven't watched the Panorama programme, but it was apparently
    30 minutes long. I think they would have had to say a bit more
    than just "inveterate womaniser" to pad it out to that length.

    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Handsome Jack@jack@handsome.com to uk.legal.moderated on Wed Jun 10 18:45:34 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.legal.moderated

    On Wed, 10 Jun 2026 16:27:10 +0100, GB wrote:

    On 09/06/2026 18:40, Jon Ribbens wrote:

    What is also perplexing is why he's threatening to sue, and why he's
    now too tainted by these allegations to chair west ham?

    Well they certainly seem like defamatory allegations if they turned out
    not to be true.


    To be defamatory, don't statements need to reduce the reputation of the person they are being made about? Perhaps I'm too cynical ...

    The test (section 1(1) of the Defamation Act 2013) is whether the
    publication of the statements caused, or was likely to cause, serious harm
    to the reputation of the parties. It could be argued that this test is met
    if the publication only damaged the claimant's reputation in the eyes of a significant section of the public, even if it was innocuous in the eyes of many others.

    Anyway, the test is still very judge-dependent (though probably an
    improvement on what went before it). As we saw in Blake v Fox, in which a judge decided that a person is not defamed by calling him a racist but is defamed by calling him a paedophile.

    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2