Poll: Student jailed for 9 months for "prank"

[Kenai]

I'm glad we agree that causing someone physical damage is worse.



For the record, I'm not the one saying it was the drunk person's fault (that's another discussion going on in this thread) and I do think the guy should be punished, but not given prison time. Most of you have no idea what prison is like, especially for someone who isn't your everyday smack head/mugger/GBH repeat offender. Depending on his character, he might need counselling, anti-depressants, might even come out a drug addict given that 80% of prisoners take illegal drugs.

Answer me this: if you expect to go to prison for this, why isn't the prison system full of "t-bag offenders". Because this sort of "prank" occurs all the time. Shouldn't they all be in prison? Once again, my problem is with selective justice.

We don't agree at all but nice try at the cheap debate trick.

As for your question at the end, one would imagine the difference in punishment has arisen from a few subtle differences to many cases, that it happened to someone he didn't know well and thus couldn't make any reasonable assumption of mutual understanding of humour, the fact it got videoed and finally that he was showing the video to people, presumably in some sort of pathetic attempt to look cool to his peers.

 

[Devrij]

We don't agree at all but nice try at the cheap debate trick.

As for your question at the end, one would imagine the difference in punishment has arisen from a few subtle differences to many cases, that it happened to someone he didn't know well and thus couldn't make any reasonable assumption of mutual understanding of humour, the fact it got videoed and finally that he was showing the video to people, presumably in some sort of pathetic attempt to look cool to his peers.

I thought it was the friend who showed the video to workmates not the guy? Also, I would rather be cockslapped than punched in the face. Neither is particularly nice, but a broken nose hurts more than broken pride.

 

[Tombo]

There is a world of difference between two guys having a scrap, or even one guy hitting another for no reason compared to videoing yourself shoving your penis in an unconscious womans face. I'm amazed that even needs pointing out.

Why is punching someone in the face for no reason better than slapping them with your penis for no reason. Objectively punching someone is worse because it can cause physical harm as well as mental.

Why make it about her being a woman at all, would it be less bad if it was a random bloke he slapped?

 

[gambitt]

We don't agree at all but nice try at the cheap debate trick.

As for your question at the end, one would imagine the difference in punishment has arisen from a few subtle differences to many cases, that it happened to someone he didn't know well and thus couldn't make any reasonable assumption of mutual understanding of humour, the fact it got videoed and finally that he was showing the video to people, presumably in some sort of pathetic attempt to look cool to his peers.

So you would rather be knocked out by a drunk stranger and left with a broken nose on the street than being touched by a penis? Really?

You obviously didn't read the article because he wasn't the one who was "showing it to his mates to look cool", it was someone else. You should really be bothered to gather the facts if you are going to have such a strong opinion about something.

Why make it about her being a woman at all, would it be less bad if it was a random bloke he slapped?

Of course it would! But the white knight effect is prevalent.

 

[SexyGreyFox]

I'm not condoning it, but it happens all the freaking time, so why did the police/CPS pick this one to run with? Slow day at the office? Have they set a precident? ie. automatic prison sentence for this sort of thing?

Yesterday evening my two daughters and a friend were leaving to go out on the town but I called them in to get their thoughts on this story. Two of them graduated this year and the other graduated last year so all went to many house party's very recently.
I told them the story (leaving out the punishment) and they just stood there shrugging their shoulders saying what a stupid girl she was, don't fall asleep or take a friend who can keep you awake.
I then told them the punishment and all 3 were gobsmacked saying it goes on all the time. They confirmed with me he hadn't got an erection/masturbating and so put the blame in her hands - don't fall asleep at a house party.

Being recent female Uni students they all accepted that this stuff goes on and you've only got yourself to blame if you fall asleep and somebody plays a prank (BUT NOT SEXUAL ASSAULT).

 

[Glaucus]

Being recent female Uni students they all accepted that this stuff goes on and you've only got yourself to blame if you fall asleep and somebody plays a prank (BUT NOT SEXUAL ASSAULT).

It is very clearly sexual assault under the law. Just because most people wouldn't report it means little, if someone does like in this case, you are screwed.

 

[Jono8]

Yesterday evening my two daughters and a friend were leaving to go out on the town but I called them in to get their thoughts on this story. Two of them graduated this year and the other graduated last year so all went to many house party's very recently.
I told them the story (leaving out the punishment) and they just stood there shrugging their shoulders saying what a stupid girl she was, don't fall asleep or take a friend who can keep you awake.
I then told them the punishment and all 3 were gobsmacked saying it goes on all the time. They confirmed with me he hadn't got an erection/masturbating and so put the blame in her hands - don't fall asleep at a house party.

Being recent female Uni students they all accepted that this stuff goes on and you've only got yourself to blame if you fall asleep and somebody plays a prank (BUT NOT SEXUAL ASSAULT).

I discussed this with some female friends and they though the exact opposite so....?

Fact is, the woman was distressed by it and pressed charges so what your daughters feel about it is irrelevant.

 

[Destination]

Of course the police were involved and it went to court. The chap was understandably shaken up by the whole thing and wanted to press charges. I was given a deferred sentence and it probably worked in my favor that he and and his friends filled me in outside of a nightclub in that time. I agree that I got off quite lightly. But it was enough. That's the point I'm making here. This guy did a really stupid thing, but he was probably drunk, didn't really think the whole thing through, and being expelled from Uni and fined would have probably been sufficient to stop him from penis slapping girls in the future.

That is somewhat different, you didn't just get a fine and moved, you got a good beating at the time, and you also got a suspended jail sentence.
As you say clearly it was enough to sort things for you, so the term given, and the sentence were effective.

 

[gambitt]

Fact is, the woman was distressed by it and pressed charges so what your daughters feel about it is irrelevant.

Fail. You don't "press charges" in UK law. You make a statement and the police/CPS decide how to proceed. This isn't America. If you don't know how the law works then your opinion is not valid.

 

[dirtychinchilla]

I've got to say, I creased when I opened this and read the headline. Pretty poor performance though.

 

[elmarko]

I discussed this with some female friends and they though the exact opposite so....?

Fact is, the woman was distressed by it and pressed charges so what your daughters feel about it is irrelevant.

I wouldn't say it's that simple.

It's clearly not that straightforward as to how the average person would react, a large portion of both men & women wouldn't even classify it as sexual assault, a number see it as harmless, others akin to rape - or like me they think the sexual nature isn't valid in this case just because the penis was used & if the victim feels charges are required them common assault would be more suitable.

This thread is pretty good evidence towards the fact that a drunken idiotic student may not know better (if opinion is so divided on the matter) - neither would it be indicative of a pattern of sexual crimes.

 

[Destination]

Fail. You don't "press charges" in UK law. You make a statement and the police/CPS decide how to proceed. This isn't America. If you don't know how the law works then your opinion is not valid.

The police will ask you, when interviewing you in relation to a case if you want to 'xxx', this ticks a box saying they have, or they can expect you assistance with statements etc should they find the perpetrator.
This is the equivalent of a pressing charges question.
If you say no, they generally won't investigate any further, as without active witness support cases will fail at the CPS level.

 

[Nevakonaza]

Stupid **** like this is blown out of proportion, there are a lot more serious issues to deal with.

I agree,They should have just gave him a warning and made him pay compensation..Jails are already overcrowded as it is.

 

[gambitt]

The police will ask you, when interviewing you in relation to a case if you want to 'xxx', this ticks a box saying they have, or they can expect you assistance with statements etc should they find the perpetrator.
This is the equivalent of a pressing charges question.
If you say no, they generally won't investigate any further, as without active witness support cases will fail at the CPS level.

It's not remotely equivalent to pressing charges, which impiles the victim is driving the case forward and can drop the charges at any time. Once the victim ticks the box to proceeed, they cannot back out. The police/CPS are then in control.

 

[mattyfez]

Some very worrying posts in this thread.

An abhorrent act showing a complete disregard for another persons feelings, no one should be allowed to act like that, and evidently they are not.
No one, male or female should feel they have to stay awake /remain sober in order to avoid such a thing happening.

I feel the sentence is fair, some peoples moral compass is well and truly in the gutter.
He should be thankful he's not on the register and hopefully learn a lesson.

 

[shauncr91]

It's sexual assault, of course it's not a harsh punishment. It should've been longer if anything.

 

[Jono8]

This thread is pretty good evidence towards the fact that a drunken idiotic student may not know better (if opinion is so divided on the matter) - neither would it be indicative of a pattern of sexual crimes.

What kind of an excuse is that? A 20 something year old man should absolutely consider that an unknown to him woman might not want his penis shoved in her face and furthermore might well consider it as a sexual assault.

In this case, he was a law student for goodness sake! The mind boggles.

 

[gambitt]

I wouldn't say it's that simple.

It's clearly not that straightforward as to how the average person would react, a large portion of both men & women wouldn't even classify it as sexual assault, a number see it as harmless, others akin to rape - or like me they think the sexual nature isn't valid in this case just because the penis was used & if the victim feels charges are required them common assault would be more suitable.

This thread is pretty good evidence towards the fact that a drunken idiotic student may not know better (if opinion is so divided on the matter) - neither would it be indicative of a pattern of sexual crimes.

There is something about the penis that freaks people out beyond all reasonable proportion. I can imagine the rabble-rabble South Park style reaction now...

"oh so he slapped you in the face while you were unconscious? I see. Well, that isn't very nice but as long as you are ok th... OH MY GOD HE USED HIS PENIS HE MUST GO TO PRISON"

 

[Destination]

It's not remotely equivalent to pressing charges, which impiles the victim is driving the case forward and can drop the charges at any time. Once the victim ticks the box to proceeed, they cannot back out. The police/CPS are then in control.

Complete rubbish.
People often back out, that's why cases collapse all over the place.

 

[elmarko]

What kind of an excuse is that? A 20 something year old man should absolutely consider that an unknown to him woman might not want his penis shoved in her face and furthermore might well consider it as a sexual assault.

In this case, he was a law student for goodness sake! The mind boggles.

Once again misrepresenting my views.