Decent Judges do actually exist after all !
Notifications OFF
So, in a nutshell, after an horrendous day my Autistic Son was sentenced yesterday after a very nerve-wracking time waiting until 3pm and after 3 previous postponements!
The Judge expressed his disgust in open court at the horrendous delay of 3.5 yrs. He also called the Vigilantes out for exactly what they are !! He acknowledged our living hell for the past 3.5 yrs and agreed he wouldn't be stood in court if he didn't have autism . All the reports and supporting evidence pointed to his isolation due to his autism which led him to being entrapped and the devious tactics of the vigilantes. Obviously my Son did wrong but he was treated fairly - 3 yr community order and 5 yrs SOR and SHPO and 35 Rehab days . The emphasis was on support .
No address was given in court and no media present although it has reached the local online rag.. it's going to take a long time before I stop feeling like a nervous wreck and dreading each day. It will never really be over but it's good to know that some Judges are human after all !
The Judge expressed his disgust in open court at the horrendous delay of 3.5 yrs. He also called the Vigilantes out for exactly what they are !! He acknowledged our living hell for the past 3.5 yrs and agreed he wouldn't be stood in court if he didn't have autism . All the reports and supporting evidence pointed to his isolation due to his autism which led him to being entrapped and the devious tactics of the vigilantes. Obviously my Son did wrong but he was treated fairly - 3 yr community order and 5 yrs SOR and SHPO and 35 Rehab days . The emphasis was on support .
No address was given in court and no media present although it has reached the local online rag.. it's going to take a long time before I stop feeling like a nervous wreck and dreading each day. It will never really be over but it's good to know that some Judges are human after all !
Goodness what a journey
sending you love and thank you for sharing
how old is your son can I ask please ?
sending you love and thank you for sharing
how old is your son can I ask please ?
Hi , he was 23 at the time and now he's almost 27 ! The utter irony is that because of what happened and the fantastic help and support he has had , he is in a much better place . He has had support from some fantastic people and has lived in supported living for the past year .
how are things with you ?
how are things with you ?
Yes that's ironic isn't it
I'm just about coping , court in 5 weeks Solictor wants all paperwork woth diagnosis on and will shall see
sons only 13 ????
I'm just about coping , court in 5 weeks Solictor wants all paperwork woth diagnosis on and will shall see
sons only 13 ????
Hi Winnie - great news and now you can look to the future. Onwards and upwards!
Can you share how all the relevant info was received by the judge? Did you provide a statement/character reference yourself and if so, how did you get the balance between explaining things about your son without sounding as if you were minimising the offence or telling the judge what to do? Or was all this covered by the defence and reports?
Can you share how all the relevant info was received by the judge? Did you provide a statement/character reference yourself and if so, how did you get the balance between explaining things about your son without sounding as if you were minimising the offence or telling the judge what to do? Or was all this covered by the defence and reports?
Glad to hear you have had a relatively positive outcome from this
Heart, I just cannot imagine how you are coping , how on earth is criminal punishment the road to go down rather than education and relevant support?
Rainyday , yes of course , it'll be a long reply though !
My Son has had lifelong well-documented issues with speech and language difficulties, social interaction problems and not one friend. He is also a very gentle natured, kind and honest person. I say all this because it was entirely relevant to the situation. Looking back, he was failed by school, paediatrician (who he was under for 16yrs) and now failed by the so called Criminal Justice System who pursued this conviction based on one off-on conversation over one week with what turned out to be a decoy (vigilante). He was locked up in a cell overnight and we were treated in the most terrible way for 3.5 years.
Every step of the way, I supplied my own supportive documents - I forwarded some background information to the CPS (through Police) and when it came to Court, I gathered evidence from anyone who has supported him (professionals) and wrote a statement myself. I was advised in my statement not to give an opinion on the offending or a potential sentence. I focussed purely on his character and the progress he has made since the offence and also the wonderful support he has been given . I also referred to the trauma of what happened and the ongoing effects on his and my mental health. I also acknowledged the fact that he had offended and wasn't in denial about this and how truly sorry he is and the fact that he has fully engaged with any help,advice and support he has been offered.
The Judge obviously had read and taken notice of the 'living hell' and 'admirable support' he has had. I have done everything in my power to show the judge the true nature of my son . He had some wonderful supportive statements and apparently the PSR was incredible according to the Barrister. I also made sure that Probation had all the reports as I knew this would be crucial to his mitigation.
it has truly been a sobering experience but the inflexibility of the law and a lack of sensible decision-making has been staggering.
i think it was Cedarkey7 many months ago who was trying to raise the profile of our vulnerable young people with the mainstream media to take this on board, i had a go too but ran out of energy. The social stigma makes it almost impossible as many people/influencers don't want to be associated with anything to do with it.
i feel truly exhausted now but need to get back to work after being off for the last 6 mths, fortunately my Manager has been incredibly supportive.
Hope this helps , there is much more but that's the gist of it !
Rainyday , yes of course , it'll be a long reply though !
My Son has had lifelong well-documented issues with speech and language difficulties, social interaction problems and not one friend. He is also a very gentle natured, kind and honest person. I say all this because it was entirely relevant to the situation. Looking back, he was failed by school, paediatrician (who he was under for 16yrs) and now failed by the so called Criminal Justice System who pursued this conviction based on one off-on conversation over one week with what turned out to be a decoy (vigilante). He was locked up in a cell overnight and we were treated in the most terrible way for 3.5 years.
Every step of the way, I supplied my own supportive documents - I forwarded some background information to the CPS (through Police) and when it came to Court, I gathered evidence from anyone who has supported him (professionals) and wrote a statement myself. I was advised in my statement not to give an opinion on the offending or a potential sentence. I focussed purely on his character and the progress he has made since the offence and also the wonderful support he has been given . I also referred to the trauma of what happened and the ongoing effects on his and my mental health. I also acknowledged the fact that he had offended and wasn't in denial about this and how truly sorry he is and the fact that he has fully engaged with any help,advice and support he has been offered.
The Judge obviously had read and taken notice of the 'living hell' and 'admirable support' he has had. I have done everything in my power to show the judge the true nature of my son . He had some wonderful supportive statements and apparently the PSR was incredible according to the Barrister. I also made sure that Probation had all the reports as I knew this would be crucial to his mitigation.
it has truly been a sobering experience but the inflexibility of the law and a lack of sensible decision-making has been staggering.
i think it was Cedarkey7 many months ago who was trying to raise the profile of our vulnerable young people with the mainstream media to take this on board, i had a go too but ran out of energy. The social stigma makes it almost impossible as many people/influencers don't want to be associated with anything to do with it.
i feel truly exhausted now but need to get back to work after being off for the last 6 mths, fortunately my Manager has been incredibly supportive.
Hope this helps , there is much more but that's the gist of it !
Thanks Winnie07
Can I ask for you contact the police to go through the cps ? I want to send them my sons medical diagnosis prior to the hearing
I also like you want to write a statement will this get passed on prior or can my solicitor read it ?
Solictor has mentioned they don't generally meet you before court date but I've said I will pay for a meeting I'd rather get into debt to fight my sons corner , he's admitted his guilt and he's so remorseful it's just heartbreaking ????
Can I ask for you contact the police to go through the cps ? I want to send them my sons medical diagnosis prior to the hearing
I also like you want to write a statement will this get passed on prior or can my solicitor read it ?
Solictor has mentioned they don't generally meet you before court date but I've said I will pay for a meeting I'd rather get into debt to fight my sons corner , he's admitted his guilt and he's so remorseful it's just heartbreaking ????
Post deleted by user
Hi again Heart,
I truly feel for you, it's such a heartbreaking situation- it's hard having to be so strong all the time, not just for yourself but for your Son too.
i didn't have direct contact with CPS, I passed my statement and any other supporting documents to the Police and specifically asked if he would forward it with my Son's file to the CPS.
After he was charged, I got together supportive statements from other professionals who had supported him (including the Counsellor from Lucy Faithful Inform Course) and I wrote another statement focussing on the progress he had made in the time since arrest. He also had Psychological and Psychiatric assessments which supported him. These went through the Solicitor for the Barristers attention.
Heart, feel free to DM , if I can help at all even just to let off steam. You are not alone x
I truly feel for you, it's such a heartbreaking situation- it's hard having to be so strong all the time, not just for yourself but for your Son too.
i didn't have direct contact with CPS, I passed my statement and any other supporting documents to the Police and specifically asked if he would forward it with my Son's file to the CPS.
After he was charged, I got together supportive statements from other professionals who had supported him (including the Counsellor from Lucy Faithful Inform Course) and I wrote another statement focussing on the progress he had made in the time since arrest. He also had Psychological and Psychiatric assessments which supported him. These went through the Solicitor for the Barristers attention.
Heart, feel free to DM , if I can help at all even just to let off steam. You are not alone x
Thank you you've really helped
so I'm assuming our first hearing will be to enter plea ? So unsure
thank you for listening x
so I'm assuming our first hearing will be to enter plea ? So unsure
thank you for listening x
Sorry, I should have also said that the Barrister uploads things onto the case file and the judge is able to view all the supporting evidence.
what stage are you at now ? X
what stage are you at now ? X
We are at court summons stage which I'm assuming that's where we go enter our plea and they decided fri. There
solictor didn't really explain it the process
solictor didn't really explain it the process
I found the lack of communication particularly difficult to cope with . I still feel like there is a lot about the process and my Son's case that I don't understand. I have so many questions still and no one to answer them . Solicitor was really difficult to get a straight answer from and Barrister largely inaccessible. I really feel for you x
I am absolutely delighted for you & your family. Onwards & upwards now. I can only hope when our turn comes we have a more sympathetic judge to ASD & being groimed/ lured into this themselves.
On a side note note one establishment or journalist even bothered to reply to me. No one wants to tough this 'ugly' subject, they will have to one day I have no doubt. The NAS did reply but sent links that were not appropriate to the subject I was trying to raise awareness of. They are thecmain organisation I believe could address this issue.
Again I am so happy for you xx
On a side note note one establishment or journalist even bothered to reply to me. No one wants to tough this 'ugly' subject, they will have to one day I have no doubt. The NAS did reply but sent links that were not appropriate to the subject I was trying to raise awareness of. They are thecmain organisation I believe could address this issue.
Again I am so happy for you xx
Cedarkey7 - thank you , you're very kind. For such a long time I followed many posts on here describing their relief at the final outcome. Of course not everyone experienced such relief but I desperately wished my agony was over and now it finally is - however, I just feel utterly saddened and angry on behalf of all my forum friends that we are ever here in the first place. Time to try and pick up the pieces of what's left.
wishing you all the very best x
wishing you all the very best x
Sorry, I should add - the National Autistic Society didn't want to know. I sent them several emails and got sent some links. I tried to approach their media department and the management but ended up drawing a blank. I personally think it's an abdication of their responsibility towards people with Autism not to push an agenda of personal education and protection against the dangers of online 'friendships'. I don't know where else to go with this - any ideas anyone ?
Winnie07 I absolutely agree, what a powerful way to describe it, an abdication of duty. This will come back on them one day I have no doubt at all.
Also I have no ideasl unfortunately as the newspapers & journalists I emailed did not even respond to me to say, sorry not interested.
Claret Allely has written pspers & articles on this subject, it's her area of expertise, so this IS a 'thing' about he increasing amount of ASD men & young men who are vulnerable & susceptible to this area of IIOC & extreme right wing/ terrorism. Given the numbers of children diagnosed with ASD is drastically rising surely this is something that is only going to get 'worse'. If I had read an article of the kind we're advocating for, I would 100% have asked my son about this & as he finds it difficult to lie I believe he may have told me, I could have saved him from these life changing avenues he went down. As if his life hadn't already been one of sadness. He met every criteria, lonely, isolated, no friends, low self esteem, had been bullied at school, had no outlet for his sexuality except online etc & covid just made all this so much worse.
Claret Allely has written pspers & articles on this subject, it's her area of expertise, so this IS a 'thing' about he increasing amount of ASD men & young men who are vulnerable & susceptible to this area of IIOC & extreme right wing/ terrorism. Given the numbers of children diagnosed with ASD is drastically rising surely this is something that is only going to get 'worse'. If I had read an article of the kind we're advocating for, I would 100% have asked my son about this & as he finds it difficult to lie I believe he may have told me, I could have saved him from these life changing avenues he went down. As if his life hadn't already been one of sadness. He met every criteria, lonely, isolated, no friends, low self esteem, had been bullied at school, had no outlet for his sexuality except online etc & covid just made all this so much worse.
I think the NAS made things clear regarding Autism links to crime following the Greg Wallace comments earlier this year.. along with other ASD charities.. however in the case of young adults the difficulties with social situations are far greater.. and there is a clear need to educate better..
Cedarkey7, you could be describing my own Son here - that's him (or was him) to a tee!
I must say that as a autistic adult I have found the National Autistic Society and their stance on many issues to be very unhelpful. They are very keen to promote the positive aspects of autism (somewhat understandable) whilst also ignoring or only paying lip service to supporting us in the very negative issues we are more prone too such as online offending, radicalisation, exploitation etc
In my experience, having tried to get help or advice from multiple charities, as my person has a complex array of multiple LDs, they have been less than useful to say the least. So sad.
For Cedarkey,
Hi I've PMd you.
Hi I've PMd you.
So sorry I dudnt realise I'll check now. I don't always k8g on when I look & even then it's only a tiny red ditsy alerts to a message. I wonder if there us a way to be sent another email or message by the forum automatically when you receive a message?
Hi CedarKey , totally agree. It's so easy to miss the message alert . I often miss them but try and remember to look xx. I often think of you x
I agree I think this is something that many users of the forum would appreciate. It's great to be able to reach out and start, or engage with conversations 1:1 on here but having to log on and look for a very tiny red flag isn't the most user friendly.