No, I'm Not Buying It Either, Judge...

The teenager was arrested and charged with one offence of voyeurism and seven offences of making indecent photographs of children between October 2015 and November 2016.

But due to his severe learning difficulties he was subsequently deemed unfit to plead to the offences.

The jury was therefore told it was simply required to decide whether, in law, he 'did the act' as opposed to finding him guilty or not guilty.

The usual excuse. At least, this time, the judge wasn't asleep at the switch.

Sentencing was adjourned until May 4 after Judge Williams said she needed reports to assess whether a mental health treatment requirement could be attached to a supervision order.

She questioned how Herridge had been able to undertake an engineering course despite his learning difficulties, and further remarked that his filming of the girl had required 'some determination'.

Which brought the expected 'Well, it's complicated...' response from his defence:

However, Merry Van Woodenberg, defending, told the court he had 'different intelligences and different abilities', with a difficulty in retaining and communicating information, but had an assigned local authority youth worker for his educational needs.

Riiiight, sure...

And did this come up at his trial? Why, no, reader, it did not.

It came up at the trial of his brother, for killing his stepfather.

The jury was not told about Mr Payne's death or the legal proceedings that followed.

Douglas Herridge was initially charged with Mr Payne's murder, but this was dropped mid-trial after a judge ruled there was insufficient evidence to support such an offence.

Both his mother and father, David, gave evidence for the prosecution. Mrs Herridge, an NHS risk manager, described how Douglas was very protective of his brother, who was born with a heart defect.

The manslaughter trial heard the argument between mother and son on November 19 initially concerned her refusal to lend the teen money but then escalated as they discussed the indecent images on William's phone.

Jesus, what a family....