Monday 6 February 2012

So What Was The Point Of The Suspended Sentence?

A former heroin addict has avoided a jail term after committing an offence for the second time while subject to a suspended sentence.
Oh, FFS..!
Joshua Hill, admitted stealing three chicken wraps from the Tesco Express in Shirley Road in Southampton on November 20 and then spitting in a police car when arrested.

Kelly Wickens, prosecuting at Southampton Magistrates’ Court, said the 21-year-old told officers he had hepatitis C and they therefore had the vehicle cleaned, costing £60.
Lovely
After committing the latest offences magistrates were advised the starting point was the activation of the suspended sentence.

But the court heard Hill was drinking less and on methadone and that treatment he is about to receive for hepatitis C would be affected by a prison term.
Yes, and..? Perhaps he should have thought of that before going on the rob?
The chairman of the bench sentenced him to a 12-month community order. He was also given a 12-week curfew and ordered on a six-month alcohol treatment programme.
*sigh*

7 comments:

Elly said...

I love this blog and the common-sense responses to beaurocracy etc.

But in this case I don't think prison would have been the best solution.

People on drugs are known to often have access to drugs in prison and it is not an environment that enables rehabilitation in that purely physical/addiction way, let alone socially. I think the judge made the right decision.

Elly said...

that's me QRG sorry!

NickM said...

Well, an obvious community sentence would involve cleaning police vehicles. Maybe ambulances too. Why not. Make the punishment fit the crime. Also actually eating all three Tesco chicken wraps at a sitting might act as a deterrent!

Seriously on the last point though it never ceases to amaze me the petty nature of so many crimes.

I read on a blog somewhere recently Julia that you are the "unofficial recorder of the crimes of the underclass". It chimed with what I'd been thinking. I guess someone has to do it because I couldn't be bothered. I guess I've read too much classic detective fiction which is all thwarting the machinations of "Napoleons of Crime". I can't imagine Dr Watson writing about the peculiar perspicacity of his friend Mr Sherlock Holmes in "The Adventure of the three Tesco Chicken Wraps". Nah, if Lestrade had turned up at 221B Baker Street with that one Holmes would have reached for the cocaine and violin and bade the good inspector on his way.

Anyway, keep up the good work. It's good to remind the likes of me that the vast majority of crime doesn't involve naval treaties or indeed Ocean's eleven but is just pure scumbaggery.

John Tee said...

Elly said: But in this case I don't think prison would have been the best solution.

Best solution for whom? The crim or the public?

Captain Haddock said...

Suspended Sentences .. the gift which keeps on giving & ensures that an entire legal industry can continue to live in the luxurious manner to which they've become all too accustomed ..

There's no incentive for them to kill the goose which lays the golden eggs, is there ?

JuliaM said...

"But in this case I don't think prison would have been the best solution."

Well, I'd much prefer NickM's suggestion of a few months hard labour, but

a) if he refuses/does a deliberately poor job, then what, and
b) the unions (particularly the Ambulance Cleaners And Washers Union) tend to act up when someone takes their jobs.

"Seriously on the last point though it never ceases to amaze me the petty nature of so many crimes. "

Perhaps no-one ever cottons on to the really good ones, and therefore they aren't classed as crimes..? Let's hope so, anyway; I weep for the future of humanity otherwise!

"Best solution for whom? The crim or the public?"

Oh, I think we know which one the sausage-factory of the justice system considers the main 'customer', don't we?

"There's no incentive for them to kill the goose which lays the golden eggs, is there ?"

Spot on!

Unknown said...

he is my brother and he is off the drugs and drink now so he didn't need to go to prison