Earlier this week I penned a column on the possible problems re the introduction of a “Megan’s Law” in the UK. The tone of my argument was that it was not the best way to tackle the problem of paedophiles within the community. However, it would appear that both the law and the courts are also not the best way to tackle paedophiles. Kevin Toner, 20, has been found guilty of the sexual assault of a nine year old girl and according to the Shields Gazette “has been jailed for life”. Except that he hasn’t. Toner will serve a minimum of four years before he is eligible to apply for parole. Crown Court Recorder Jeremy Richardson said of Toner;
“I have no doubt that you are a cunning and devious sexual predator when it comes to children”
And further
“I do not know when it will be safe to release you”.
Toner has a previous conviction in 2002 for sexually assaulting two boys aged nine and ten. If he keeps his slate clean in jail and blags his way through therapy, four years from today Toner WILL be released, as he was released after four years re his 2002 offence.
The only person who has been given “life” in this dreadful scenario is a nine year old girl.
Contrast this sentence to the terms given out to a road haulage arsonist (page 3 of the paper) who was jailed for 12 years. It is at times like this that my liberal views are sorely tested. If I were the parents of Toner’s victim and knew that he was once again living within a community, I now admit that I would demand some form of public consultation procedure. I may even resort to “mob” rule if I considered him a danger. The problem here is society’s attitude to the most heinous of crimes: life should mean life with the victims “sentence” being mirrored by the “perpetrators” incarceration. Haulage companies have insurance and any damage will have been made good. You can’t take out insurance on a child’s mental well being!
The sense of doom is further propagated by a headline also on page 9;
“Mum started fire to get new home”
Melanie Miller, 31, stuffed a burning rag through her own letter box so that “her housing application would be rushed through”. Her defence solicitor said of Miller, she
“didn’t understand the gravity of what she was doing at the time”.
I know I shouldn’t be shocked anymore, but I am. The “want it now” society is even prepared to risk the lives of others in the pursuit of its own selfish whims. I shall refer to this attitude in greater detail in next weeks “State of the Nation” address.
Contrast this sad state of affairs to Niall Quinn, who as one of the longest standing patrons of the “Show Racism The Red Card” football charity accepted a £15,000 cheque from South Tyneside Council at the Stadium of Light today. Quinn deservers credit not only for returning to save the club his once played for, but also for striving to put something back into a game which by his own admittance rewarded him very well.
I feel sorry for Inspector Peter Sutton (page 5) whose knife amnesty produced “just a handful” of weapons. A knife amnesty is the hardest of campaigns to produce results. We all have knives in our houses; functioning without them would be impossible. We therefore don’t see them as weapons. We all however, don’t have guns lying around in our kitchen draws, which is why this type of approach always draws better results. If one of the knives handed in could have been used in a future crime, then the amnesty was a success. Keep up the good work Mr Sutton.
On a lighter note and in an attempt to quell the doom and gloom merchants, the following items in the Gazette brought forth a little mirth.
Firstly, page 14 has a little sideline headed;
“Councillor in surgery”
Hoping that someone had found an active serving member for my ward and sent him for cloning, I quickly scanned the article and saw the name “George Elsom”. “Halleluiah” I thought, finally someone has gone to court for an ASBO and wired George’s jaw together! Sadly this was not the case, and it was only an advance notice of his own ward surgery. On a more serious note, I know George of old, and whilst I don’t agree with everything he stands for, he has never been one to duck an issue and at least was one of the first councillors to leave the “private club” that is the Labour ruling group on South Tyneside Council. More power to his jaw I say!
Moving on, “Wing Tai Ch-uan Un-Stylistic Gung Fu” classes are now available at St Peter’s Church in Jarrow (page 13). Apparently, Wing Tai Ch-uan Un-Stylistic Gung Fu is a “new conception of martial arts, which allows it to be adapted”. Personally, I prefer my “Wing Tai” with egg fried rice and noodles!
Page 8 of the paper has the bold headline;
“Thousands tested for sex infection”
Unfortunately the picture next to the article is of “Jasper”, a currently lost and homeless border collie. For a moment I thought somebody had maliciously slipped a few pages of the “Daily Sport” into my Gazette. Before the R.S.P.C.A. launch legal proceedings however, thankfully the picture relates to an adjacent story. I think the type set brigade at the Gazette should watch carefully how they place and distribute their stories in the paper. But then again, didn't I see Jasper propping up the bar at the Grey Horse last week?
Finally, I found myself on page 25 of the Gazette and its “Good Company” section i.e. the personal ads (Honestly, I was looking for the Grand National runners list). It got me thinking, how would Gordon Brown place his add?
MAN SEEKING PARTY LEADERSHIP
SCOTTISH PRESBYTERIAN BIBLE BASHER
RESEMBLES SHREK
SEEKS PARTY TO LEAD
ANY TYPE WILL DO
ABLE TO MOVE HOUSE VERY QUICKLY
ALL READY LIVING IN AREA
LIKES:ACCOUNTS/STALIN/IPODS/ARCTIC ROLLS, SORRY MONKEYS
HOBBIES: SPENDING OTHER PEOPLES MONEY (BUT NOT WISELY)
FINANCIAL SECURITY: PENSION FUND PROTECTED
ONLY LONG TERM (WELL, AT LEAST A FIVE YEAR TERM) RELATIONSHIP CONSIDERED
ONLY GENUINE OFFERS ENTERTAINED
TONY DON’T REPLY, YOU’RE A TIME WASTER AND NOT MY TYPE
What would Miliband's/Cameron’s/Campbell’s and other political “well to do’s” personal ads say? Answers on a post card to John Prescott, Studdfest, Obscurity Lane, Westminster Village etc etc. On second thoughts, just post a reply!
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