Wednesday 5 June 2013

All That Fuss About The US 'Three Strikes' System...

...and over here, we don't even have a 'One Hundred & Eighty Three Strikes' system:
A serial shoplifter was sentenced for his 183rd conviction yesterday.
Robert Knowles, 66, pictured right, appeared at Plymouth Crown Court charged with stealing three tins of fish and three bottles of wine from Tesco.
Was this the final straw?

Heh! Of course not:
Judge Paul Darlow gave him a prison sentence of 120 days but Knowles was released immediately having already spent 61 days in custody.
Still, he's keeping a lot of folks in employment:
Knowles, of George Place in Millbay, will remain on probation licence and will receive help from Adult Social Care.
What, no 'Thinking Skills' course?

10 comments:

Mark In Mayenne said...

I am looking for a downside to free food and drink when you get away with it, and free food and baccommodation when you don't.

Anonymous said...

I've one better than that. Harry Hankinson in the Bolton News. Have a look.

ageing man said...

now of course were he to have 183 toes he would be considered a freak.... but put me in charge, he would have started with 10 toes, but he sure as hell would not have finished with 10.... I've said it before and I'll say it again.... after toe 3 I think he would be cured....society might benefit as well.....what was that you were saying about 3 strikes and you're out ?....time for a glass of wine and a tuna sandwich to celebrate with me thinks...

JuliaM said...

"I am looking for a downside to free food and drink when you get away with it, and free food and baccommodation when you don't."

If you don't mind the criminal record (and if you want to avoid work, why would you?) it does seem ideal for a certain type.

"Harry Hankinson in the Bolton News. Have a look."

He needs another uncontrollable brain injury. *loads .44*

"now of course were he to have 183 toes he would be considered a freak.... but put me in charge, he would have started with 10 toes, but he sure as hell would not have finished with 10.."

:D

MTG said...

Gosh. On the last occasion a Huddersfield pensioner forgot to pay for a bottle of Tesco plonk, two squad cars full of 'Every Little Helps Plods' were rapidly at the crime scene to pounce upon and asphyxiate the menace.

The UK moral is: Far safer to rob large sums from ordinary citizens than attempt to pilfer a trinket from the well connected.

Anonymous said...

Ah yes Melvin once again you repeat the "pensioner at Tescos story".
Anyway I have posted on here before about a man I arrested a few years back who had over 600 convictions.This chap's a beginner really!!
Jaded.

Louise said...

Doesn't that chap Dog the Bounty Hunter have over 180 convictions?

I always get vaguely irritated when fellow Brits compare our criminal justice system unfavourably with our friends across the big pond. Texas, in particular, is used as an example to follow. Of course, no research has been conducted and the advocates of this system have no idea of its background: google 'Kenneth McDuff'.

John Pickworth said...

Louise said: "I always get vaguely irritated..."

Really? You don't sound sure? ;-)

JuliaM said...

"Texas, in particular, is used as an example to follow. Of course, no research has been conducted and the advocates of this system have no idea of its background: google 'Kenneth McDuff'."

Well, that's certainly an exception to the rule. It's nice to know the Wiki author has watched a bit od 'Criminal Minds':

'McDuff was known to fire at living creatures with a .22 rifle as a young boy...'

Like probably 90% of young males (and females!) in rural Texas, you mean?

Louise said...

I think we might have our wires crossed.

I was talking about the McDuff Laws. Nothing to do with gun control laws.