Wombat
Registered
So in today's Mercury there's a story about a scammer using a stolen John Lewis credit card to purchase a couple of $1000 cell phone fraudulently
Part of a ring of thieves, went to Lewis stores in Leicester & Birmingham, got caught by staff & security, convicted (claimed he was under 'financial pressure'.... who isn't these days?) and got off with 6 months jail, suspended for 18 months
His lawyer also claimed an "error of judgement"!! That to me suggests a rash decision.....on the spur of the moment. This thief drove from London, to Leicester, then over to Birmingham after his first attempt failed, so you would think had ample time to consider his criminal-intent
What kind of deterrent is that? I know the jails are crowded but why not hand down a 10 years 'suspended sentence' to encourage the guy to stay on the straight & narrow and become a law-abiding citizen? Doesn't cost society any money and surely would help reduce liklihood of reoffending
The store owners, staff and Police who got a guilty conviction.....then the guy gets a gentle slap on the wrist, ONLY ENCOURAGES MORE CRIME. Wonder if the judge would have been so lenient if it was his property that had been stolen and peace of mind violated..... sad to see the justice system becoming a joke and the criminals laughing at hard working people who acquire things the honest way
Part of a ring of thieves, went to Lewis stores in Leicester & Birmingham, got caught by staff & security, convicted (claimed he was under 'financial pressure'.... who isn't these days?) and got off with 6 months jail, suspended for 18 months
His lawyer also claimed an "error of judgement"!! That to me suggests a rash decision.....on the spur of the moment. This thief drove from London, to Leicester, then over to Birmingham after his first attempt failed, so you would think had ample time to consider his criminal-intent
What kind of deterrent is that? I know the jails are crowded but why not hand down a 10 years 'suspended sentence' to encourage the guy to stay on the straight & narrow and become a law-abiding citizen? Doesn't cost society any money and surely would help reduce liklihood of reoffending
The store owners, staff and Police who got a guilty conviction.....then the guy gets a gentle slap on the wrist, ONLY ENCOURAGES MORE CRIME. Wonder if the judge would have been so lenient if it was his property that had been stolen and peace of mind violated..... sad to see the justice system becoming a joke and the criminals laughing at hard working people who acquire things the honest way
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