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Found out the charges

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Dragonmama

Member since
November 2022

251 posts

Posted Mon March 20, 2023 4:29pmReport post

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Edited Fri May 5, 2023 12:35pm

Cherry

Member since
January 2023

106 posts

Posted Mon March 20, 2023 5:21pmReport post

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Edited Mon December 11, 2023 2:01am

BaffledB

Member since
July 2021

876 posts

Posted Mon March 20, 2023 6:25pmReport post

That's quite minimal in terms of communication charges with the incite charge which is promising. I would ask the solicitor to query the charge for x2 cat C and ensure they have definitely got that correct as they do occasionally like to try and push the boundaries, so with it being an incidental download from pop-ups it could be a case of mistaken age but I'm just putting it out there for you to clarify.

Usually with communication charges there will be more than 1 so hopefully he should be released and get a very reasonable sentence, especially with the guilty plea reduction. Ask if you can have a copy of the evidence (if you wish) and make sure statements/evidence is ok before it goes to court. Xx

SAL

Member since
December 2021

895 posts

Posted Mon March 20, 2023 9:08pmReport post

My partner was charged and sentenced for attempting to incite sexual with a child (also penetrative). The sentencing guidelines are very different if the child was 12 or under.

The Sentencing Council website gives a good breakdown of the sentencing guidelines for the charge.

I've followed this and similar charges, but begire and after his sentencing and they really are so varied. My partner recieved a 40 custodial. There was no arrangement to meet. No images etc. Others I've seen have more charges and arrangements to meet and have recieved a less severe sentence.

Dragonmama

Member since
November 2022

251 posts

Posted Mon March 20, 2023 9:11pmReport post

Dear cherry

i hope for your and your daughters sanity it's not that bad for you, I have everything crossed for you all.



Dear BaffledB

i have read it all and that was the best possible outcome sentencing will be issued at some point in April, I worry that they will make an example of him and the judge is horrendous toward the crime. I know the charges could have been far worse. I'm the OiC was trying to get him done for making too but it clearly shows how the images got on the phone in the first place. And I feel like the OiC was out to get him. When it came to my kids being in CPP the OiC got her two pennies in trying to make out I was down playing what he had done, but this wasn't the case and she was corrected for misleading information. Which the panel did take into account thankfully. The OiC seems to not be impartial like she is meant to be, seems like somewhat a vandetta against our type of people and those associated with them. According to the police when I've spoken to them later for other things they said that the OiC was meant to point me in the direction of where to get help like LLF and been around to see us (kids and I) but never had and didn't.

Dragonmama

Member since
November 2022

251 posts

Posted Mon March 20, 2023 9:17pmReport post

Dear Sal,

he's already spent 4months inside and by the time he receives sentencing it will be 5 months, the way remand works is for every day inside it counts as 2 days, so the equivalent of 10 months. What sor and shpo did yours get if you don't mind me asking. Due to vigilantes, social services and my parents he won't be able to return home to keep our kids safe. Both my children want to see their dad as do the other two children (different mother/different council ss) and we worry that sor and shpo will prevent access



there was no arranging to meet or images etc, there was him calling out the decoy (he knew the person wasn't really 13 it was clear from the conversation)

I'll try and take a look at the sentencing council maybe I can get some idea, thank you for telling me about that

Edited Mon March 20, 2023 9:20pm

BaffledB

Member since
July 2021

876 posts

Posted Mon March 20, 2023 11:06pmReport post

Dragonmama,

I understand your worries, they're very valid as you can see sentencing can be either end of the spectrum! I do think the judge should be more considerate as your OH has already spent time on remand and he may even disagree with that decision having been made in the first place. Hopefully your representation can reiterate to the judge the mitigating factors plus the time spent on remand and he can at least get out and start to rebuild. I can sympathise with your dealings with the OIC, ours was nothing short of horrific with both of us and had I been more naïve I would've left my partner at the day of arrest if I'd believed all the lies the OIC told me, his statement was a complete fairytale too.

SAL

Member since
December 2021

895 posts

Posted Tue March 21, 2023 7:36amReport post

Unfortunately my person received life time SOR and SHPO, but this seems unusual compared to others I've seen, even those with similar sentences. The custodial is one thing, but the life time on these is what I find the hardest. I've absolutely no doubt he'll never do anything like this again but I worry about him forgetting something and doing something that is deemed to have broken the requirements. I wish I'd been more on the ball at sentencing as I'd have suggested we appeal the SOR and SHPO.

His conversation was about a 12 year old. The sentencing is different for under 13 - Much more severe.

Dragonmama

Member since
November 2022

251 posts

Posted Tue March 21, 2023 10:25amReport post

Dear Sal

that seems incomprehensible, a lifetime just seems like something you would give to someone who has actually harmed a child. I don't understand how a decoy can be considered a real person. I think you can appeal to be removed after 15 years, maybe your partner can do that???



I mean I don't understand at all, there are millions of women that watch crime documentary's about murder and serial killers even some that write to these murders in jail doesn't mean that women will go out and do that to others. It all makes no sense at all.

im not down playing what our loved ones have done, but I don't understand how the sentence is so bad for those that have not themselves harmed a child but those that have seem to get light sentences.

SAL

Member since
December 2021

895 posts

Posted Tue March 21, 2023 5:26pmReport post

I feel sick thinking that he's considered as dangerous as people that have physically acted. I can't get my head around that.

Before I knew he was under investigation for this we'd actually had a conversation about a crime that was referenced on a podcast I listen to - There was a man that hat written in detail on a forum how he intended on killing his wife. His wife read it and he was subsequently sentenced for attempted murder. The guy claimed it was all fantasy. Me and my partner has had a conversation about whether it was right or wrong (which was the subject of the podcast). The guy served his time and now rights crime novels talking in a very similar way to that he did on forums.

I've gone round in circles about how I feel about my partners crime should have been dealt with. He was lying and role playing all sort, some of the things he claimed weren't even physically possible for him to do. He'd had many conversation with women about a certain role play scenario (apparently one of the most popular fantasises for women). My person crime was committed when had a conversation with another adult about a child, I can see how he would have been led by the decoy and believed it was role play and no child existing.

But when I look at it from another angle I can see that if it hadn't been a decoy he'd have put a child in very serious risk of being abused - I feel so angry at him for being so naive and not thinking that could be a possibility. Also if you take the discussion on face value there is nothing that would differentiate someone that had intent v my person that thought he was in a role play scenario. If he'd said in the conversation that it was role play and the other person has agreed, the outcome may have been different. I am in no way excusing it, just explaining it from a legal perspective. Everyone would say they thought it was role play otherwise.

Edited Tue March 21, 2023 5:34pm

HelpMe

Member since
June 2022

140 posts

Posted Tue March 21, 2023 6:43pmReport post

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Edited Thu August 10, 2023 1:45pm

Dragonmama

Member since
November 2022

251 posts

Posted Tue March 21, 2023 8:34pmReport post

Hi help me

the question I would have is what forum was yours on, if it was for children and above I would definitely have reported the child as I also know my OH would have done, however my OH was on a sight specifically for over 18s and you had to be varified to be on it. My OH had a game he like to play catching out catfishes (I knew he did this btw) so he was trying to expose this person, it's clear that the person wasn't real and he was trying to get them to admit it via the conversation. Main tell is when it's the same profile picture but several times but all saying different locations or different names

HelpMe

Member since
June 2022

140 posts

Posted Wed March 22, 2023 11:48amReport post

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Edited Thu August 10, 2023 1:45pm

Dragonmama

Member since
November 2022

251 posts

Posted Wed March 22, 2023 2:57pmReport post

Hi HelpMe

i wish my OH could access LLF or counselling, however due to being in jail they don't help people at all, he is very remorseful and hasn't done anything like this previously either.



im actually disgusted that when people are in jail remand or sentenced, there is little to no help for them by way of counselling etc, it took 7 weeks to get a dentist appointment for example and he had a tooth that was falling apart (we already knew this and was due to see his dentist two days after the arrest). Yes people are in jail ti be punished but there is a basic human right for medical assistance. But prisoners are being neglected in this respect. It will mess up anyone's head if you were stuck in a small room with someone you didn't know for up to 19 hours a day (depending on if you have a prison job or not). If anything you would think prisons would know this is a major failing and actually do something about it.

Lucy from Stop it Now!

Member since
September 2018

482 posts

Posted Wed March 22, 2023 4:24pmReport post

Dear Forum Users,



Thank you to you all for posting on the forum and for the support you are providing to each other. We value the different opinions and views expressed on the forum and believe it is an important platform for support, information and discussion. The discussion around decoys is an interesting one, which is highly thought-provoking and sensitive, and we wanted to share a few thoughts.

We’ve worked with a number of individuals who thought they were chatting online to a child, when in actual fact it was an adult presenting themselves as a child (usually an undercover police officer). Despite this, it is important to note that it is the intention behind this online behaviour that is examined and considered by the Court. When sentencing an individual for this type of offence, the Court will need to determine the degree of harm caused and the culpability of the person who has committed the offence. Harm in this case addresses whether or not sexual images were sent or received, and the psychological harm that is characteristic of this type of offending, with culpability assessing the presence and significance of things such as abuse of trust, use of threats, and soliciting images. In cases where someone has tried to communicate with a child victim who does not exist e.g., being caught by an undercover police officer, the court will still seek to identify the category of harm caused on the basis of the sexual activity intended by the individual, but will then adjust this to reflect the fact that no or lesser harm has actually resulted. You can find out more by visiting the Sentencing Council website: https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/

Occasionally, we work with people who view their online sexual communication offences as being less harmful than other types of sexual offending, largely due to the fact they had no physical contact with the victim. Survivors of online sexual communication offences describe experiencing

both short-term and long-term effects, many of which last a lifetime, regardless of the fact it took place online. The impact upon victims can often involve both emotional and physical harm, such as anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, shame, guilt, suicidal thoughts and sleep disturbance, as well as having an impact on their behaviour, such as difficulty coping with stress, self-harm, relationship problems with partners/family/friends, drug and alcohol use, or problems at school.

With regards to being on the register (SOR), those individuals who have received custodial sentences in excess of 30 months are subject to an indefinite notification period. However, these individuals can apply to the police for this to be reviewed after a 15 year period. The police will consider a broad range of factors when reviewing this, such as the risk of sexual harm posed by the individual, the seriousness of the offence(s), the period of time that has passed since the offence was committed, and previous compliance with the notification requirements. For further information, visit the Unlock website: https://unlock.org.uk/

We hope that this can help shed some light on some of the specific sentencing decisions that are made in relation to offences involving sexual communication with a child.

Thanks again to you all for reading and posting on this forum. We appreciate all stages of this journey can be an incredibly difficult time for those involved, and want to continue to encourage you to use this space to share your thoughts, knowledge and opinions.



Take Care

The Forum Team

Bettyboo65

Member since
June 2022

339 posts

Posted Wed March 22, 2023 5:02pmReport post

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Edited Mon July 15, 2024 1:16pm

Lucy from Stop it Now!

Member since
September 2018

482 posts

Posted Thu March 23, 2023 3:40pmReport post

Hello Bettyboo65,

It is good to hear that you found the information helpful.



The answer to the question you have asked about a connection between survivors and online sexual offences is often complex. There are limited studies examining a connection between survivors of child sexual abuse and engaging in illegal online sexual communication. However, we know that in general; most individuals who have been victims of crime do not go on to offend. But we also know that most offenders have previously been victims. We would like to make it clear that this is for all types of crime, not specifically sexual crimes. There are a lot of theories out there attempting to explain the connection between ‘victim-offenders’ which is often how these types of situations are referred to. Some of these theories have attempted to discuss factors such as the impact of trauma and learned behaviour from an early age. However, to this date, a connection is still considered controversial.



You have asked if being a survivor of sexual abuse is considered a mitigating factor; it is not listed as a mitigating factor in the sentencing guidelines. However, it could be considered in the pre-sentence report. The pre-sentence report is an expert assessment of the nature and causes of an individuals’ behaviour which will consider risk and sentencing options available. This will include an overview of the individuals’ history of offending and their attitude towards their own offending. It will be useful for the probation officer writing this report to know about his past abuse, particularly if he believes his offence was influenced by the abuse he suffered. The pre-sentence report considers risk and this will therefore be relevant.



If you would like more information about the pre-sentence report, we recommend taking a look at the Law Society website. You can access this here: https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/topics/criminal-justice/new-pre-sentence-report-protocol



We hope this helps.

RIG22

Member since
September 2022

138 posts

Posted Tue March 28, 2023 10:12amReport post

HelpMe; I couldn't agree more with what you e said.
I read all the posts on here as I can't talk to anyone else about this issue so knowing what's happening with others is helpful and makes me feel less isolated.
What I'm about to write are my thoughts only and in no way intended to upset it offend anyone. I apologise in advance if they do.
I read words like "naive", "dark hole" and "mistake" and wonder how we as partners of offenders have come to reconcile their behaviour and treatment towards us. I know in my case, I haven't left my partner (yet), initially after the knock there was disbelief, then anger and then trying to reconcile the new information to the man I had dedicated my life to.
Was he "naive" or was he chancing his luck? Was it a "dark hole" or his new chosen secret lifestyle? According to him he'd have "eventually" stopped his online activity but since he had been getting away with it, I guess he never felt the need to (he was meeting women he'd met online). Lastly, the "mistake" was maybe being caught or the fact that women weren't as readily available so anything for a thrill?

Again, like it's been mentioned before, the need for excitement or arousal leads to things that they may otherwise have not even considered but the fact is they did and that is life-changing.
I think on my part, addressing or labelling this as being a naive mistake or wishing it was an addiction to online chatting which lead to this helps me cope. I couldn't imaging continuing to live with someone who had that mindset and whether I like to admit it or not, the fear of being alone, starting a new life and of the unknown scares the life out of me. Sadly, the fact is, they have lied and committed a horrendous act. I say this because I often ask myself if I would leave my underage child with someone who had made a "mistake" like this and the answer is always no.
Like a few, this was communication too. First offense, 1 chat where 1 (too many) sexual comment/suggestion was made to a decoy posing as a 13 year old. No previous. Life was going so well until the knock.
Again, this post is in no way intended to offend anyone. These are my thoughts entirely and just wanted to say them out loud (in writing).
x

Edited Tue March 28, 2023 10:17am

Losteverything

Member since
September 2022

216 posts

Posted Tue March 28, 2023 4:58pmReport post

RIG22, I totally agree with you. Men just make excuses for why they committed this crime. It's just a means to coerce women to stay with them because who would want them now!!!! I really hope you find the strength to leave, you deserve a better life x

GZ

Member since
December 2021

164 posts

Posted Tue March 28, 2023 5:10pmReport post

Lost everything,

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and all have different feelings surrounding this. But I cannot disagree with you more and sometimes you are very insensitive to those supporting their partners/sons/family members.



I understand how this crime has ruined your life and you chose to walk away-you are fully supported in this decision. However you also need to support others and by doing blanket statements like this it can feel very unsupportive

Cherry

Member since
January 2023

106 posts

Posted Tue March 28, 2023 5:42pmReport post

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Edited Mon December 11, 2023 2:01am

Losteverything

Member since
September 2022

216 posts

Posted Tue March 28, 2023 5:55pmReport post

I'm sorry if I offended anyone.... it's just that this is what I believe. All I hear on here is how lives have been ruined by men who choose to break the law.
no I'm not a social worker but I do work with children who have been the victim of these crimes and sorry but there are no valid excuses.

I've clearly upset people so I'll leave the forum now

Life feels over

Member since
September 2022

412 posts

Posted Tue March 28, 2023 5:57pmReport post

@cherry very well said x

Edited Tue March 28, 2023 5:57pm

Bettyboo65

Member since
June 2022

339 posts

Posted Tue March 28, 2023 6:54pmReport post

I'm totally with you cherry, you can see genuine remorse, shame and in lots of cases issues that have led these men to where they are but they don't need society and media hating on them. They need guidance and support to climb out of the darkness . A lot of them are not the scourge of society which is how they are portrayed x

Daffodil

Member since
March 2022

965 posts

Posted Tue March 28, 2023 7:14pmReport post

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Edited Tue October 24, 2023 9:12am

Daffodil

Member since
March 2022

965 posts

Posted Tue March 28, 2023 7:28pmReport post

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Edited Tue October 24, 2023 9:12am

Losteverything

Member since
September 2022

216 posts

Posted Tue March 28, 2023 8:00pmReport post

Really sorry, I'm just so desperately unhappy

Daffodil

Member since
March 2022

965 posts

Posted Tue March 28, 2023 8:04pmReport post

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Edited Tue October 24, 2023 9:12am

Dragonmama

Member since
November 2022

251 posts

Posted Tue March 28, 2023 9:07pmReport post

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Edited Tue March 28, 2023 9:09pm

Dragonmama

Member since
November 2022

251 posts

Posted Tue March 28, 2023 9:09pmReport post

Hi all

***Tigger warning****

please stop having a go at each other, each of us are allowed to have our own opinions whether that be to remain or not/ support or not. To each their own. You do what's right for your family and you. I will not judge you for this.

however that being said I did find some things offensive but still respect the view point of the poster.

Now just for some information just so you all know, I was raped, beaten, drugged and starved as a child (0-4), this did mess me up a lot as it was family members (plural), you can guess that i obviously did not remain with those people. There are probably pictures of me floating about the internet, there is nothing I can do about this and I accept it.

when I was a teen had there been internet as wide spread as there is today I probably would have been "groomed" I'm lucky there wasn't. Unfortunately my DD was but I managed to catch it, guess what the police did when I took them my DD phone with the evidence of this......absolutely nothing.....and I mean nothing. They didn't trace anything or anyone, now this is a real child not a decoy and nothing was done, I'm even struggling to get my DD counselling or at least an online safety course. Yes social services are involved and are of zero help, if anything they are a hinderance to me getting my DD help of any kind.

I have and do know plenty of young ladies that used to speak to men online when they were minors.

I do not condone what my OH has done, infact I was extremely angry with him, however I still kept an open mind to find out what and why. I needed to know the motive, I needed to know if he was attracted to children. I read the communication between him and the decoy, I could see why and how he thought the person wasn't a child and spoken to him about that there was not a 100% guarantee that the decoy was really a decoy and he admitted that he shouldn't have tried to out the decoy and should have just blocked and reported them. I will remain angry about this for the rest of my life there is nothing I can do about that. But he is remorseful, there has been no previous things like this in his past.



do I fully forgive him? no, of course not.

There was and is a lot of damage done. Maybe one day I will, I don't know what the future holds, but I will not condem him either. I will be remining his friend especially as we have a DS together. I will be as supportive as I can be and that's the best I can do for him, myself and our DS.



I hope that what ever you all choose to do with your persons is right for you and you are not condemned for having your own thoughts and feelings towards your persons.

stay/don't stay, support/don't support it's your choice at the end of the day and I hope you don't allow anyone to tell you what to do

I wish you all hope, love, support and strength xxxx

Edited by moderator Wed March 29, 2023 4:21pm

Bettyboo65

Member since
June 2022

339 posts

Posted Tue March 28, 2023 9:23pmReport post

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Edited Mon July 15, 2024 1:17pm

RIG22

Member since
September 2022

138 posts

Posted Wed March 29, 2023 12:59amReport post

Losteverything; please don't leave. What you have to say might not be for everyone but it may resonate with some so not all is lost.
Your feelings are valid and they matter to you and since this is a safe place for us all be it partners, parents, children or siblings, we should be allowed to express those thoughts and views. Having said that, we are ALL hurting and we all have our own ways of expressing it. None of us are wrong so please let's be empathic towards each other and allow a little leniency when reading or responding to posts and not take it as a personal attack.
Like I said in my original post, my post was about how I felt and not intended to upset or hurt or offend anyone and the fact that everyone was kind enough to accept what I'd written, let's be kind to one another because let's face it, no one else is being kind to us in our world outside of this forum.
Each day is different. Some days I wake up feeling really hopeful and positive (God only knows why!) and others I barely want to get out of bed. On those bad days I'd like to share my feelings knowing that I won't be judged and THAT is what keeps me going during those dark moments.
Again, Losteverything pls stay. You're just as much a part of this forum as any of us.
Stay blessed all. X