Communication offences: forensics and sentencing
Notifications OFF
Morning all
My thoughts are with all of you, especially those waiting for sentencing this week.
I'm 7 months in and it's so draining being in limbo.
I asked a few months ago, and am 'bumping' the question again: those of you whose person committed communication offences, what were the sentences?
Also, where your person was caught via police decoy on Snapchat or Kik, did the police manage to recover other conversations? Or were they only able to produce those they'd screenshotted as part of the sting? I'd be extremely surprised by the coincidence if all those caught by police sting were genuinely first time offenders (ie their first and only lllegal conversation was the decoy). I'm just wondering how much else gets found on phones.
My thoughts are with all of you, especially those waiting for sentencing this week.
I'm 7 months in and it's so draining being in limbo.
I asked a few months ago, and am 'bumping' the question again: those of you whose person committed communication offences, what were the sentences?
Also, where your person was caught via police decoy on Snapchat or Kik, did the police manage to recover other conversations? Or were they only able to produce those they'd screenshotted as part of the sting? I'd be extremely surprised by the coincidence if all those caught by police sting were genuinely first time offenders (ie their first and only lllegal conversation was the decoy). I'm just wondering how much else gets found on phones.
I would be interested to know this too.
My OH is under investigation atm for a communication offence - we don't know if it was a decoy or not but the police had the full conversation so we presume that it was. He has admitted to having conversations previously but always asked the age(!?!) All this was on Snapchat.
We are almost 5 months in and like you I'm exhausted.
My OH is under investigation atm for a communication offence - we don't know if it was a decoy or not but the police had the full conversation so we presume that it was. He has admitted to having conversations previously but always asked the age(!?!) All this was on Snapchat.
We are almost 5 months in and like you I'm exhausted.
Sorry you're here too. Bloody idiot men. Mine has admitted to me that there were more chats, and frankly part of me will be appalled if he is charged / sentenced on less than the full extent of his offences.
It's strange how the illegality of it all, and its logistical impact on me and the children, conveniently overshadows the infidelity / betrayal etc, I sometimes find myself forgetting what he's done to the marriage.
It's strange how the illegality of it all, and its logistical impact on me and the children, conveniently overshadows the infidelity / betrayal etc, I sometimes find myself forgetting what he's done to the marriage.
Hi. Mine is my son (adult).
It is "Attempted Communication" and was a decoy.
absolutely nothing else found on his phone or other electronics. He was using a platform for over 18's, think it was Kik. I believe the platform does not age check when using it.
we are 2 years in, sorry if you don't want to hear that! Court has been re-arranged 3 times so far. First because prosecution did not have all their info to hand, 2nd two times because of the riots and no prison places, so apparently no sentencing took place. We are now due to attend this week.
Sick with worry doesn't come close and totally and utterly exhausted. I have spent 2 years hiding this from almost everyone but it has also wrecked my closest family they refuse to be in the same room as him or even talk about the implications and possible outcomes. It's so difficult to manage.
It is "Attempted Communication" and was a decoy.
absolutely nothing else found on his phone or other electronics. He was using a platform for over 18's, think it was Kik. I believe the platform does not age check when using it.
we are 2 years in, sorry if you don't want to hear that! Court has been re-arranged 3 times so far. First because prosecution did not have all their info to hand, 2nd two times because of the riots and no prison places, so apparently no sentencing took place. We are now due to attend this week.
Sick with worry doesn't come close and totally and utterly exhausted. I have spent 2 years hiding this from almost everyone but it has also wrecked my closest family they refuse to be in the same room as him or even talk about the implications and possible outcomes. It's so difficult to manage.
Athena I'm so sorry you're here. Do you have a date this week, or are you expected to drop everything and attend when the court can list the hearing? Will you be attending?
My OH previous conviction was communication based, though it was text messaging rather than Internet chat room based. He was charged with three offences and found guilty on two, the third was thrown out by the judge as the defence proved absolutely it could not have happened.
The two charges were causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and sexual communication with a child, sentences were 9 months and 6 months respectively. The judge decided the two should be served consecutively so a total of 15 months.
However this was in 2007 so the sentencing guidelines may have changed.
The two charges were causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and sexual communication with a child, sentences were 9 months and 6 months respectively. The judge decided the two should be served consecutively so a total of 15 months.
However this was in 2007 so the sentencing guidelines may have changed.
26a20 those sound like the charges my person will face if the non-decoy Snapchat conversations are found. I assume those sentences were custodial, not suspended?
Post deleted by user
Yes immediate custodial.
Feel free to private message me if you want to know anything more.
Feel free to private message me if you want to know anything more.
Hi 26,
Was it a trial or did he plead guilty? Thanks.
Was it a trial or did he plead guilty? Thanks.
LisaMargeMaggie
It should be tomorrow. Just waiting on confirmation.
Even though his Barrister indicated non custodial and the Probation report recommends this too, I feel more and more that it will be custodial as there is a mention of the word "incite". Not sure where I have seen this but it was definitely mentioned, hence the solicitors are indicating that it falls under 2A of the sentencing guidelines.
i honestly fail to see what custodial will achieve! He's been in therapy for over a year, has not put a foot wrong since, he is genuinely very remorseful.
I am very very scared of what will happen.
It should be tomorrow. Just waiting on confirmation.
Even though his Barrister indicated non custodial and the Probation report recommends this too, I feel more and more that it will be custodial as there is a mention of the word "incite". Not sure where I have seen this but it was definitely mentioned, hence the solicitors are indicating that it falls under 2A of the sentencing guidelines.
i honestly fail to see what custodial will achieve! He's been in therapy for over a year, has not put a foot wrong since, he is genuinely very remorseful.
I am very very scared of what will happen.
Definitely no attempt to meet. Definitely no soliciting/ exchange of indecent images with a child under 13.
That much I know.
The other points you both mention are cause for significant concern from a sentencing point of view. He's allowed supervised access at the moment but I assume if more is found on devices that'll change? Will police inform SS before or after charges / plea / sentencing? I feel like I'm holding this huge unexploded bomb which has been activated but I can't find the timer - everything's going to be blown apart but I don't know when.
That much I know.
The other points you both mention are cause for significant concern from a sentencing point of view. He's allowed supervised access at the moment but I assume if more is found on devices that'll change? Will police inform SS before or after charges / plea / sentencing? I feel like I'm holding this huge unexploded bomb which has been activated but I can't find the timer - everything's going to be blown apart but I don't know when.
Hello
we are due sentencing next week and at my OH plea in crown court, judge told his barrister that she was not going to give custodial but the starting point in my OH case was 18 month suspended or a high level community order but that was without any other factors.
He went to his pre sentence report meeting and went really well and alot better than we could of ever imagined and hes being put forward for alot less. The PO who did his report also said that he would be his probation officer, he went through everything with him aka his charges, spoke about family history and what was going around the time he had done it. He did get alot of praise for the work hes done so far and he told him that he was going to forget about the suspended sentence.
My OH been charged for adult attempt to communicate with a child (police decoy on snapchat) and 1xcat b and 2x cat c but judge confirmed that she wasnt looking at that for charging, just the communication.
it was half a hour over 2 mornings, all the chat fit on 1 a4 page so they didnt have alot to go from but obvioulsy enough to charge and for it to be dealt with at crown.
inbox is always open xx
we are due sentencing next week and at my OH plea in crown court, judge told his barrister that she was not going to give custodial but the starting point in my OH case was 18 month suspended or a high level community order but that was without any other factors.
He went to his pre sentence report meeting and went really well and alot better than we could of ever imagined and hes being put forward for alot less. The PO who did his report also said that he would be his probation officer, he went through everything with him aka his charges, spoke about family history and what was going around the time he had done it. He did get alot of praise for the work hes done so far and he told him that he was going to forget about the suspended sentence.
My OH been charged for adult attempt to communicate with a child (police decoy on snapchat) and 1xcat b and 2x cat c but judge confirmed that she wasnt looking at that for charging, just the communication.
it was half a hour over 2 mornings, all the chat fit on 1 a4 page so they didnt have alot to go from but obvioulsy enough to charge and for it to be dealt with at crown.
inbox is always open xx
LosingIt - yeah he pled not guilty and it went to trial. Sorry I should have made that clear in my original post as obviously being found guilty will result in a higher sentence than pleding guilty from the start.
He went not guilty on the basis he claims he was set up by the teenager and there family. The charge that was thrown out was proven to be a false allegation.
He went not guilty on the basis he claims he was set up by the teenager and there family. The charge that was thrown out was proven to be a false allegation.
No need to apologise! Oh wow, it's amazing that the throwing out of third charge on those grounds wasn't enough to raise sufficient reasonable doubt in the jury. Not to be an elitist but I don't think most people in most juries really have the brain cells or attention span to properly understand their role or the evidence. I say this as someone who's done jury duty and consider myself of average intelligence. Some of my co-jurors were, to put it mildly, quite uninterested and misunderstood a lot of what had been put before them. Or, they projected their own assumptions onto the evidence in such a way that it couldn't possibly bear the burden of proof in the way they thought it did. Not even on the balance of probabilities - and in a criminal case the burden is supposed to be higher than that anyway. Unlike the family courts.
My OH admitted guilt when arrested - the police had the conversation which included a photo he had sent (face only) so he had no choice.
He is adamant there was no inciting and no arranging to meet, although the police did attempt to twist our recent UK mini break as a trip to meet up - I had booked it 6 months before the conversation took place
We are hoping for a suspended but equally aware it could be custodial
He is adamant there was no inciting and no arranging to meet, although the police did attempt to twist our recent UK mini break as a trip to meet up - I had booked it 6 months before the conversation took place
We are hoping for a suspended but equally aware it could be custodial
Sentencing for my person was a 3 year community order 5 years shpho 5 year sor 180 hours community service court fine £270 charges were attempted communication and arranging and facilitating I did put my experience of the day in court up a few months back under the heading sentencing if you put that in the search bar on here all the details are there I hope this helps
Seems a lot have sentencing over the next couple of weeks my person included.
we are 4.5 years In. No reason for this it just took the police that long to bring charges.
it was Kik.
we are 4.5 years In. No reason for this it just took the police that long to bring charges.
it was Kik.
Hi there.
I have been reading these posts for a while now.
Our son , who has ASD, was arrested in February last year, he has been on remand in prison since then.
The sentence hearing has been adjourned 3 times, the last one was 23rd December, he was on a video link from the prison, unfortunately the hearing was postponed as case before his overran. Needless to say, the festive celebrations were very quiet, next date is 20th January. As this his second offence, no contact with under age girls, just images on Internet. The barrister has said he may get a custodial sentence, however there are a few mitigating circumstances that could help the judge come to a decision.
This has meant we can't see our grandchildren, which is heartbreaking as we miss them so much.
We visit him once a month and he rings us twice a week, which is good and I know he is coping with the situation really well, I just want him home.
I have been reading these posts for a while now.
Our son , who has ASD, was arrested in February last year, he has been on remand in prison since then.
The sentence hearing has been adjourned 3 times, the last one was 23rd December, he was on a video link from the prison, unfortunately the hearing was postponed as case before his overran. Needless to say, the festive celebrations were very quiet, next date is 20th January. As this his second offence, no contact with under age girls, just images on Internet. The barrister has said he may get a custodial sentence, however there are a few mitigating circumstances that could help the judge come to a decision.
This has meant we can't see our grandchildren, which is heartbreaking as we miss them so much.
We visit him once a month and he rings us twice a week, which is good and I know he is coping with the situation really well, I just want him home.
Thank you all for replying, I feel so alone and lost in my thoughts today. I really appreciate everyone who has shared and made me feel less alone... misery loves company!
Sometimes I can almost believe the sanitised version of the story I tell myself, that my person and I are separated but getting on well, then suddenly it grabs me in the chest again and I'm back to doomscrolling.
Sometimes I can almost believe the sanitised version of the story I tell myself, that my person and I are separated but getting on well, then suddenly it grabs me in the chest again and I'm back to doomscrolling.
Hi all,
My OH is currently on remand. His sentencing is mid Feb. He was originally charged for 2 counts of arranging and facilitating however, one has been changed to something to do with obscene publications and the other is still similar to arranging/facilitating but they've added 'no intent' to the charge. It was a police decoy (mother) both times and the discussion was to with her apparent daughter (I'm unsure of age).
Does anyone know what is included in a pre sentence report? My person did/does have alot going on. Before all this he lost his job due to a car accident and had to sign on. He has autism and ADHD but wasn't regularly taking his meds + mental health issues. He also was looking after me as I'm in anorexia recovery. I understand what he didn't wasn't the right thing to do, but I know there was alot going on and I'm hoping this type of information is included.
I'm beyond worried about the outcome, myself and his parents are preparing for the worst as he's been in trouble before (images) over 9 years ago and was just 2 years away from coming off the register. We think he'll definitely get a custodial sentence this time but will have to see on the day.
My OH is currently on remand. His sentencing is mid Feb. He was originally charged for 2 counts of arranging and facilitating however, one has been changed to something to do with obscene publications and the other is still similar to arranging/facilitating but they've added 'no intent' to the charge. It was a police decoy (mother) both times and the discussion was to with her apparent daughter (I'm unsure of age).
Does anyone know what is included in a pre sentence report? My person did/does have alot going on. Before all this he lost his job due to a car accident and had to sign on. He has autism and ADHD but wasn't regularly taking his meds + mental health issues. He also was looking after me as I'm in anorexia recovery. I understand what he didn't wasn't the right thing to do, but I know there was alot going on and I'm hoping this type of information is included.
I'm beyond worried about the outcome, myself and his parents are preparing for the worst as he's been in trouble before (images) over 9 years ago and was just 2 years away from coming off the register. We think he'll definitely get a custodial sentence this time but will have to see on the day.
My OH arrested originally for a fantasy chat with another adult but no incitement (with what we found out 2 days before plea hearing) was a police decoy on Kik. They checked his phone and found some extreme images (but there's no charge on those for 'making') and 9 cat B were found but not accessible in the phones cache. The kik app had been deleted so they couldn't charge for the communication offence - but have gone for making of the 9, and will use the other bits alongside their record of the conversation as evidence. They've also put forward 4 search terms (which sounded like standard porn search terms to me) - and they'll use this all collectively for conviction.
Certainly not making excuses but my OH was at a very low point when the offending occurred. I've experienced first hand the horror, anguish, remorse, guilt, shame, confusion from my OH - that I'm sure happens for the majority, whether they can articulate that or not. I've witnessed all the proactive rehabilitation work he has committed to - the revelation of his undiagnosed issues, 20 hours of targeted therapy and with my love and support has completely turned his life around. However all of this rehab work has taken place prior to the conviction, which after sentencing and the rags have had their pound of flesh, may well set him right back and he stands to lose everything. I understand he needs to pay for his crime, but the unforgiving nature of these offences means it will live with him for the rest of his life.
xx
Certainly not making excuses but my OH was at a very low point when the offending occurred. I've experienced first hand the horror, anguish, remorse, guilt, shame, confusion from my OH - that I'm sure happens for the majority, whether they can articulate that or not. I've witnessed all the proactive rehabilitation work he has committed to - the revelation of his undiagnosed issues, 20 hours of targeted therapy and with my love and support has completely turned his life around. However all of this rehab work has taken place prior to the conviction, which after sentencing and the rags have had their pound of flesh, may well set him right back and he stands to lose everything. I understand he needs to pay for his crime, but the unforgiving nature of these offences means it will live with him for the rest of his life.
xx
Hi,
Has your OH been sentenced as of yet? I'm hopefully looking to speak to my OH legal team on Monday to find out the actual charges and potential outcome (if possible) - I'm just so worried he'll have a custodial sentence and quite a lengthy one at that. I know him and I know full well he would never harm anyone but I know ultimately the judge will have the final say. It's just such a daunting waiting game
Has your OH been sentenced as of yet? I'm hopefully looking to speak to my OH legal team on Monday to find out the actual charges and potential outcome (if possible) - I'm just so worried he'll have a custodial sentence and quite a lengthy one at that. I know him and I know full well he would never harm anyone but I know ultimately the judge will have the final say. It's just such a daunting waiting game
We are still awaiting charges but the OIC does have the devices back and will be making his report shortly (apparently).