Charges….. at last
Notifications OFF
Have been on the forum for far too long.
The knock was Feb 2022 for us, the worst morning of my life and we have been in limbo ever since just waiting waiting waiting for charges. Our kids are now both over 18 which is one bonus. Can't believe our youngest was only 15 when this kicked off and she has now nearly finished A levels.
Finally yesterday the sh!t got real and the dreaded envelope dropped through the letterbox. 6 charges in total, all were expected (well very nearly) and I actually feel a sense of relief that finally we can see a light at the end of the tunnel. As tough as the next stage will be, at least it's the start of the end and the waiting is nearly over.
One thing I wasn't expecting was to be feeling slightly relieved that there weren't any unexpected charges on there. My OH came clean and told me everything, but for over 3 years I have been wondering if that was the actual truth or not. In my mind if there had been any more lying, that would be it, marriage over. So that's quite a relief for me that he was telling the truth. He has been insisting that he wasn't lying, but because of the deceit of the crime in the first place, I had lost my trust in him, and had felt like our marriage was on hold until I found out for sure.
Charges are for small number of images, making (forwarding) and two charges for attempted communication (both decoys) and he has the option of choosing between it being heard by only magistrates or crown.
Obviously our solicitor will advise but our gut feeling is to let a judge decide rather than lay magistrates.
What is everyone else's thoughts on this?
Sorry about my long waffle, just needed to get it off my chest
The knock was Feb 2022 for us, the worst morning of my life and we have been in limbo ever since just waiting waiting waiting for charges. Our kids are now both over 18 which is one bonus. Can't believe our youngest was only 15 when this kicked off and she has now nearly finished A levels.
Finally yesterday the sh!t got real and the dreaded envelope dropped through the letterbox. 6 charges in total, all were expected (well very nearly) and I actually feel a sense of relief that finally we can see a light at the end of the tunnel. As tough as the next stage will be, at least it's the start of the end and the waiting is nearly over.
One thing I wasn't expecting was to be feeling slightly relieved that there weren't any unexpected charges on there. My OH came clean and told me everything, but for over 3 years I have been wondering if that was the actual truth or not. In my mind if there had been any more lying, that would be it, marriage over. So that's quite a relief for me that he was telling the truth. He has been insisting that he wasn't lying, but because of the deceit of the crime in the first place, I had lost my trust in him, and had felt like our marriage was on hold until I found out for sure.
Charges are for small number of images, making (forwarding) and two charges for attempted communication (both decoys) and he has the option of choosing between it being heard by only magistrates or crown.
Obviously our solicitor will advise but our gut feeling is to let a judge decide rather than lay magistrates.
What is everyone else's thoughts on this?
Sorry about my long waffle, just needed to get it off my chest
Could I ask how he was charged for the images? My ex's forensics turned up eight deleted images in one file, mostly Cat C but there was a Cat A and two Cat Bs. I've been assuming that adds up to three charges, a charge for each category? I've been wondering if they will actually charge for a single deleted image, but given how horrific Cat A I guess they will.
So for your case it will probably be 3 separate charges.
My OH had 3 separate charges (one for A, B and C) and two separate charges for the decoy communication, and then one for extreme porn. But strange the numbers of images have risen since the results came back from forensics. Don't know if they have included deleted ones but the solicitor will investigate that.
My OH had 3 separate charges (one for A, B and C) and two separate charges for the decoy communication, and then one for extreme porn. But strange the numbers of images have risen since the results came back from forensics. Don't know if they have included deleted ones but the solicitor will investigate that.
Thanks! That's what I was guessing.
Ellbee, I'm so happy that you are done with the limbo stage and have a clear picture of the charges. I wish you the best in this next phase.
Ellbee our images went from 5 all along to suddenly 9 in the CPS report. I can only assume the CPS may have asked for more evidence behind the scenes and police re-ran the forensics, but we'll never know. All images were of same category B (which we were told is very unusual as normally there'd be images in more than one) and the 9 were in the cache/deleted.
x
x
Thanks for that EyeofStorm, I am wondering if it's even worth going down the route of squabbling about numbers if the outcome of 34 images vs 43 images will be the same in terms of sentencing. We will take advice obviously from the solicitor. Without trying to minimise it because even 1 image is 1 image too many, it's fairly low numbers in comparison to some. I am more worried about the attempted communication as that automatically puts it into a possible custodial section. Hopefully the large amount of work he has done to make amends in his life for the last 3 years will go some way to bring that possibility down, we can only hope.
I can't imagine how it feels to have things finally moving.
I was intrigued to read that the charges came in the post. Did your OH have a second interview or any other contact first from either the police or CPS?
Or have things just gone from Knock to charges letter in the post? Was it "signed for" mail?
I was intrigued to read that the charges came in the post. Did your OH have a second interview or any other contact first from either the police or CPS?
Or have things just gone from Knock to charges letter in the post? Was it "signed for" mail?
@Runaway it was very strange as we didn't even know if it had been sent to the CPS or not. Absolutely no news of any description between 2nd interview in March 2024 and Friday when the envelope dropped through. It was a white envelope, with Crown Prosecution Seveive and the local address of the office stamped on rear. I am sure our postman is now curious. So we knew even before our solicitor, and hasn't been sent a copy yet, (only by us)
I felt sick when I saw it
Ah so there was a second interview. I assume we can expect that to happen then before anything else.
I can just imagine how you feel. I'm on tenterhooks each time the OH's phone rings and when there's any official mail through the door.
Sending hugs x
I can just imagine how you feel. I'm on tenterhooks each time the OH's phone rings and when there's any official mail through the door.
Sending hugs x
Thank you, that's kind and welcomed!
Yes it took two years for them to even get to second interview, like for so many others it's been a trying time. Every time his phone rings and it says unknown caller we would both be terrified. And picking up the mail.
Hopefully it won't be too long for you guys too, how long have you been waiting?
Yes it took two years for them to even get to second interview, like for so many others it's been a trying time. Every time his phone rings and it says unknown caller we would both be terrified. And picking up the mail.
Hopefully it won't be too long for you guys too, how long have you been waiting?