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Post by Shadow on Apr 16, 2011 17:37:18 GMT 1
Reading through yesterdays Chronicle I saw the story about the lad who shone a laser pen into the sky and was jailed despite the fact that he was a first time offender,the judge acknowledged that it had been a "prank" and that he had admitted the offence and handed over the pen immediately when questioned.The article states that the lad was hoping for an RAF career and that hope has now gone.And it also states that the judge was sending out a stark warning. Now I dont actually agree with this.Dont get me wrong-Ive met the pilots of the police choppers a few times now and they are great guys-I've the utmost respect for them-however in this instance I think this lad should not have been jailed-the judge was making an example of him and I feel this was a wrong decision. What will it achieve? The lad is not a troublemaker-he had never been in trouble before this and I reckon after a warning and possibly a fine he wouldnt have been again.He'd have most likely pursued his career choice and we would have been applauding him for his bravery.Now what-a stint inside,a criminal record and zilch chance at employment. And it wont bloody deter anyone-especially those who have zero respect for the police or anyone else.I know plenty of lads of that age also who have offended most of their lives and have no interest in being employed-they couldnt care less about being inside for a few months-but for some being put inside only came after a long,long list of offences-in fact I was talking to one about a week ago whom I bumped into outside my local shop-just out of Durham Prison again-and rehoused in one of the best estates in Gateshead.He was laughing about it. I just dont understand how some people get away with all sorts-over years-with asbos,fines etc and others go straight to jail. I do know of another instance of this happening-first time offenders being jailed because of the judge wanting to make an example and I know what the outcome was-which is why I feel so strongly about this  This lad did a stupid thing-no doubt about it-but I'm not convinced that jail was the right thing. |
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Post by skintagain on Apr 17, 2011 18:21:53 GMT 1
because some judges tend to give out soft sentences this seems a bit harsh compared to them, but if judges gave out harsh sentences this then would have been seen as soft or just about right,
ok so it was a first offence but a very dangerous one, the police were alerted by a message from a passenger airline his actions could have resulted in bringing a passenger jet down or the police helicopter and goodness knows how many would have been killed if that had of happened luckily it didnt, as for wanting to join the RAF at 21 he was leaving it a bit late, he probably knew that this was a serious offence and probably said this in the hope to avoid jail, in a country where sentences are nearly always too soft i see this as about right.
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Post by Shadow on Apr 17, 2011 18:51:17 GMT 1
I can see what you are saying skint-it was a stupid thing to do-but I still think it was harsh giving him six months. I dont understand the sentencing in this country-there seems to be no rhyme or reason as to what people get. The lad I mentioned earlier that I bumped into Ive known of since he was about 15-even back then he was well known to the Police-they just couldnt catch him because he was hidden by relatives and friends whenever the Police turned up.After years and using the dog section and the helicopter we were talking about he was finally captured-only to be bailed out the following day  Two years later they caught him again and being an adult was sent to Durham-for numerous counts of buglary-and he served 1 month.Hes been back in since then-arson,theft of cable etc and when I saw him he'd just come out again.And he found it all hilarious since his uncle and mates were in there waiting for him  Thats why I think the sentence seems so disproportionate-this bloke has done a stupid,stupid thing but -and I can only go on the report of course-the judge accepted that he was not being malicious-merely thoughtless.I think those laser things are a bloody menace by the way-there was a craze on them a few years back and I had a few shone in my eyes when I was driving-worst thing was it was by people I knew who thought they were being absolutely hilarious  |
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Post by LeazesEnder47 on Apr 17, 2011 19:15:15 GMT 1
Unfortunately that's the problem with them Shads!!
Great for Powerpoint presentations etc but point 'em into the sky (or at a driver) and they become potentially lethal!!
I took one of my bro-in-laws foster kids to a Toon vs. Liverpool match a couple of years ago at Anfield. Unbeknown to me he had one of these laser pens with him. Little bugger nearly got us chucked out but the Geordie charm managed to get the thing confiscated for the duration and he was allowed to pick it up after the match.............
That said, working with lasers I know the dangers involved and that lad you mention was either very stupid or, as skint says, knew what he was doing and used a bit of "quick thinking"!! Either way, he has buggered ANY chance he had of a career with HM Forces now.
Punishment harsh IF he genuinely wasn't aware of the consequences.......but at 20 he should know bloody better!!
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Post by Shadow on Apr 17, 2011 19:34:55 GMT 1
You'd have thought so Leazes but people never fail to amaze me. I imagine since there had been no previous sentences like this as far as I am aware anyway,this lad may well have not ever imagined he could be jailed.I know Ive read of this sort of thing before but cant remember jail time mentioned  People I'm on about pointing them at cars were blokes in their forties,drivers themselves-well at least some of them-and they most definitely should have known better-mind they used to fire ball bearings through peoples windows using them high powered catapults for a laugh too. Which is why I'm eternally grateful not to live where I used to now  Its that what gets me-Ive seen that many blokes like this who couldnt give a toss and jail will never be a deterrent cos its a lifestyle for them-just it doesnt seem to be the case with this person from what Ive read anyway.For some a fine and an appearance in court may well be enough-I know some kids are terrified just being faced with the court system etc and its enough to stop any further repeat of the actions that put them there-but it often seems that its these kids that are made an example of-yet the real horrors seem to be dealt with more leniently.I may be wrong but its just based on my own experiences that I say that |
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Post by Banshee on Apr 17, 2011 19:54:43 GMT 1
I was down in london last year on bus and a boy (aged about 15yrs) with his mum was aiming his laser at people on the bus. he aimed it at me and I asked him to stop. He laughed and carried on. I went up to the bus driver and told him but I wouldnt have wanted him arrested or jailed.
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Post by patsie on Apr 17, 2011 20:10:31 GMT 1
Shadow - just read that article. What a load of rubbish! That young man now has a criminal record - thanks to the judge - many more serious offences result in fines or community service, yet this person faces prison time.
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Post by Shadow on Apr 17, 2011 20:39:19 GMT 1
Thats how I saw it Patsie and I think it was made worse by the fact that the Chron carried another story that same day about a lad who was jailed also.He wasnt a first time offender. So why was one given a chance when he first offended and the second wasnt? |
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Post by LeazesEnder47 on Apr 17, 2011 21:10:12 GMT 1
Do agree with ye there Shadow, and Bansh!
The inconsistency of our judicial system (bloody hell I spelt it right!) really narks me........
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Post by Jazz on Apr 17, 2011 21:57:28 GMT 1
Yes, I agree it was very harsh. Obviously it was a dangerous thing to do and could have caused a minor disaster but I think a "serious talking to" by the Judge and/or Senior Policeman as well as a fine, and community service would have sorted it out. He "seemed" a nice type of lad and I don't think a spell in prison will do him any good....may come out feeling a criminal and then acting like one!
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Post by LeazesEnder47 on Apr 17, 2011 22:24:49 GMT 1
 Well said Jazz
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Post by skintagain on Apr 18, 2011 2:01:32 GMT 1
this lad is not the first person to be jailed for this type of offence there have been dozens over the last couple of years, some were first time offenders sentences ranged from 4 to 8 months, one young man was fined £4000 and people went mad when a 19 year old escaped jail and only got a £500 fine, strange reading chronnie readers comments that he should not have been jailed just wonder if he had of got off with just a fine how many of the same people would have said he should have been jailed,
some of these offenders even first time offenders have been branded yobs, morons, laser louts,
this lad is not the first and most likely will not be the last to be jailed for this sort of thing but if it stops others doing this sort of stupid thing it could prevent a disaster.
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Post by Ann1 on Apr 18, 2011 7:39:30 GMT 1
I never saw the story, so cannot really comment on it. But on first offences in general, I think other things need to be tried first, it seems very harsh to imprison someone for a first offence, obviously it would depend on the offence! I think the whole judicial system needs a review, there is too much "wriggle" room in it. There should be uniformity through the system, so if you commit a crime, you know what the sentence will be. There should of course, be various degrees of the crime, as there is now, but sentences should be uniform for them all, there should not be different sentences for the same crime, depending on where you live, who the judge is etc.
One thing that puzzles me, that postmaster that is on trial for murdering his wife, why is he out on bail??? Normally, a murder charge puts you on remand, yet you see him walking about, going to the trial etc. And yet far lesser charges will find you banged up on remand, all through your trial!
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Post by Shadow on Apr 18, 2011 19:08:15 GMT 1
this lad is not the first person to be jailed for this type of offence there have been dozens over the last couple of years, some were first time offenders sentences ranged from 4 to 8 months, one young man was fined £4000 and people went mad when a 19 year old escaped jail and only got a £500 fine, strange reading chronnie readers comments that he should not have been jailed just wonder if he had of got off with just a fine how many of the same people would have said he should have been jailed, some of these offenders even first time offenders have been branded yobs, morons, laser louts, this lad is not the first and most likely will not be the last to be jailed for this sort of thing but if it stops others doing this sort of stupid thing it could prevent a disaster. Ive not heard of anyone being jailed to be honest-but if dozens have been then surely its not acting as a deterrent And the fact that some-one wasnt jailed but was fined surely also begs the question why?? It seems clear that sentencing is purely down to the judge you get and says more about the judge and his/her attitudes and beliefs than it does about the actual crime or the person who commits it.People are going before the courts again and again-with dozens of convictions before being jailed-and others only appear once |
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Post by grimreaper on Apr 18, 2011 19:35:36 GMT 1
this lad is not the first person to be jailed for this type of offence there have been dozens over the last couple of years, some were first time offenders sentences ranged from 4 to 8 months, one young man was fined £4000 and people went mad when a 19 year old escaped jail and only got a £500 fine, strange reading chronnie readers comments that he should not have been jailed just wonder if he had of got off with just a fine how many of the same people would have said he should have been jailed, some of these offenders even first time offenders have been branded yobs, morons, laser louts, this lad is not the first and most likely will not be the last to be jailed for this sort of thing but if it stops others doing this sort of stupid thing it could prevent a disaster. Ive not heard of anyone being jailed to be honest-but if dozens have been then surely its not acting as a deterrent And the fact that some-one wasnt jailed but was fined surely also begs the question why?? It seems clear that sentencing is purely down to the judge you get and says more about the judge and his/her attitudes and beliefs than it does about the actual crime or the person who commits it.People are going before the courts again and again-with dozens of convictions before being jailed-and others only appear once The fact that you have'nt heard of any previous people being jailed "so how can it be a deterant", proves the point. These headlines now will hopefully deter young idiots and hopefully they will think twice before they start pointing these lights at peoples eyes or planes or police helicopters searching built up areas for individuals that have commited a crime. The reason I point out the helicopters is because that is exactly what was happening here in Essex last year and they got off with a smacked wrist. Anyways I think also the old bill should be concentrating more now on taking out these people that supply the lights in the first place. Surely it would have been nice to read that this boy has had his 6 month sentence cut because he gave vital information in putting the supplier of these things behind bars for a lot longer period. I would also like to nominate this judge to become the head of the judge training college... ;D ;D |
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