The British justice system allows a defence solicitor or barrister to put mitigation to the court before sentence. Just because they do, doesn't mean the magistrate or judge takes a blind bit of notice so, imo the lawyer hasn't played the court for fools.
As others have pointed out, Edward's was sentenced within the guidelines. If he hadn't he'd simply appeal (and win)
Someone needs to look at the guidelines then and change them, because at present it is simply giving beasts who indulge in this filth the green light, with a relative slap on the wrist as a punishment.The British justice system allows a defence solicitor or barrister to put mitigation to the court before sentence. Just because they do, doesn't mean the magistrate or judge takes a blind bit of notice so, imo the lawyer hasn't played the court for fools.
As others have pointed out, Edward's was sentenced within the guidelines. If he hadn't he'd simply appeal (and win)
That I fully accept. It was stated that one of the videos he saw was of a 7yr old. The child could not in any way legally consent, it is therefore rape. When Edward's pays to view the rape he is ensuring more innocent children will be raped. If the guidelines say 6 months suspended is correct, someone needs, urgently to look at the guidelines.Someone needs to look at the guidelines then and change them, because at present it is simply giving beasts who indulge in this filth the green light, with a relative slap on the wrist as a punishment.
He did what? We know he didn’t set out specifically looking for indecent images of children, and the magistrate mentioned that in his sentencing notes. He also asked not to be sent anything illegal, but not until after the guy had already sent him a lot and he’d watched it, which the magistrate also noted.
From the perspective of reoffending and danger to the public, I would expect someone who searches out this content on purpose to be much more likely to reoffend than someone who simply accepts them when some other paedo sends them to him.