Sentencing Done
Notifications OFF
WE are home! Both of us. Together.
In my opinion it couldn't have gone any better. Our solicitor really fought his corner.
He has got an 18 month community order, 180 hours unpaid work and 25 RAR sessions, £85 costs, £114 Victim Surcharge, 5 year SHPO (internet restrictions only) and 5 year SOR.
The prosecution wanted a clause in the SHPO restricting all contact with under 18s but our solicitor said this was disproportionate to the online offending and the magistrates agreed. He also said that the character references provided by me and my daughter were the reason they decided not to give a suspended sentence.
We are almost in shock at the outcome - he had pretty much decided it would be custodial.
Now we regroup, start to rebuild and continue the hard work he started 15 months ago - and maybe now I can get some counselling too
Thank you to those who kept us in their thoughts today
Xxx
In my opinion it couldn't have gone any better. Our solicitor really fought his corner.
He has got an 18 month community order, 180 hours unpaid work and 25 RAR sessions, £85 costs, £114 Victim Surcharge, 5 year SHPO (internet restrictions only) and 5 year SOR.
The prosecution wanted a clause in the SHPO restricting all contact with under 18s but our solicitor said this was disproportionate to the online offending and the magistrates agreed. He also said that the character references provided by me and my daughter were the reason they decided not to give a suspended sentence.
We are almost in shock at the outcome - he had pretty much decided it would be custodial.
Now we regroup, start to rebuild and continue the hard work he started 15 months ago - and maybe now I can get some counselling too
Thank you to those who kept us in their thoughts today
Xxx
Really pleased for you all xxx
Really really please for you xx
Fantastic! So pleased! You will sleep tonight :).
A good solicitor makes such a difference but unfortunately very costly. I am guessing yours was specialised rather than legal aid?
Anyhow, celebrate well!
A good solicitor makes such a difference but unfortunately very costly. I am guessing yours was specialised rather than legal aid?
Anyhow, celebrate well!
Well done, also had a 'good' result in court today x
6789 - she wasn't legal aid no, but also not a barrister as it was heard in magistrates court - in the grand scheme of things she cost us about £2k
OneStep - I'm pleased to hear that you also had a 'good' result xx
OneStep - I'm pleased to hear that you also had a 'good' result xx
One. Step and Lost ! I am sp pleased and relieved the ordeal is over . You must both be exhausted. The metal effort in such sustained stress and pressure is diabolical x
So pleased for you
our court date is looming , I feel so sick but it's our of my hands
did your solicitor say for you to do a character reference ?
our court date is looming , I feel so sick but it's our of my hands
did your solicitor say for you to do a character reference ?
Thank you, sorry to hijack your thread xx
OneStep - no worries - we need to celebrate our little 'wins'
Heartisbreaking - I had read on this forum of other people providing references so asked the solicitor who agreed it could help. She proof read it for me to make sure it was ok. My adult daughter also gave one focusing on the years she spent growing up around my OH (he moved into our home when she was 11, 20 years ago).
Heartisbreaking - I had read on this forum of other people providing references so asked the solicitor who agreed it could help. She proof read it for me to make sure it was ok. My adult daughter also gave one focusing on the years she spent growing up around my OH (he moved into our home when she was 11, 20 years ago).
Happy you had a good outcome x
Really pleased for some good and fair results - none of us want our loved ones just let off the hook (well, maybe in another world we do!) but neither do we want something disproportionate and unhelpful for their rehabilitation.
Heartisbreaking - we are awaiting sentencing but have submitted several character references for our son - a couple of family friends who have known him for most of his life, his 2 sisters who are horrified about his offences but believe in his remorse and efforts to lead a better life, and our friend who's a pastor and got to know our son during his marriage which was very coercive and controlling - we have no idea if the judge will take note but one thing we did make sure about was that we didn't appear to blame anyone other than him (so regarding his marriage we just said stressful times during his marriage with no reference to what they were) and we also did stress his importance to us as he sees his children regularly who live with us and have trauma related issues - and also his help to my husband and I because my husband has a new diagnosis of Stage 4 cancer..... but again we didn't say anything which could be construed as us telling the judge what to do. I used ChatGPT to run everything through and it was a great help as it pointed out a few places which might need tweaking, it even rewrote stuff making it more formal or even a bit warmer! The solicitor read them all (also my son's letter of remorse) and OK-ed them.
Heartisbreaking - we are awaiting sentencing but have submitted several character references for our son - a couple of family friends who have known him for most of his life, his 2 sisters who are horrified about his offences but believe in his remorse and efforts to lead a better life, and our friend who's a pastor and got to know our son during his marriage which was very coercive and controlling - we have no idea if the judge will take note but one thing we did make sure about was that we didn't appear to blame anyone other than him (so regarding his marriage we just said stressful times during his marriage with no reference to what they were) and we also did stress his importance to us as he sees his children regularly who live with us and have trauma related issues - and also his help to my husband and I because my husband has a new diagnosis of Stage 4 cancer..... but again we didn't say anything which could be construed as us telling the judge what to do. I used ChatGPT to run everything through and it was a great help as it pointed out a few places which might need tweaking, it even rewrote stuff making it more formal or even a bit warmer! The solicitor read them all (also my son's letter of remorse) and OK-ed them.