SEX OFFENDERS JAILED FOR LESS THAN A YEAR
Experts ‘concerned’ by lighter sentences for serious sex crimes, including rape
Aperson found guilty of raping a girl under the age of 13 is serving a prison sentence of less than a year, new figures have revealed.
Further details of the crime were not provided - we do not know the age of her rapist, or how recently the rape occurred, meaning it could be a historic case.
However, the rapist was just one of 77 sexual offenders who were serving fewer than 12 months for their crime as of March this year, according to the Ministry of Justice.
Among them were eight people who had been convicted of sexual activity involving a child aged under 16, while two were convicted of sexual activity involving a child under 13.
A spokesperson for Rape Crisis UK said: “It’s certainly of concern that a significant volume of short sentences appear to have been handed down for serious sexual offences, against both adults and children.
“Rape, sexual abuse and all forms of sexual violence have a range of longterm, often lifelong, impacts on those who experience them and sentences like these don’t appear to acknowledge that. “This is just one in many ways that the current criminal justice system fails victims and survivors of sexual offences and Rape Crisis would welcome its complete overhaul.” In total, the MoJ figures reveal that 5,343 men and women were serving sentences of less than 12 months as of March this year. While it is unsurprising that certain crimes, like shoplifting, see offenders given shorter prison sentences, those convicted of more serious crimes are being given lighter sentences, too.
For example, in total 219 people were jailed for under a year in 2017/18 for the crime of causing violence with injury.
But 11 of those had actually killed someone by driving carelessly or inconsiderately.
A further eight offenders had caused either death or serious injury by dangerous driving.
Meanwhile, 384 people were sent to prison for less than a year after committing violence without injury eight of them having made threats to kill, and two being convicted of kidnap.
Criminal damage and arson related crimes also saw 35 people sent away for less than a year, despite one of those cases endangering life.
Meanwhile, of the 452 prison sentences of less than a year handed to criminals for weapon possession, five of those related to possession of firearms with the intent to use them.
There were also 1,624 people convicted of theft offences sent to prison for under a year.
A further 562 people were locked up for less than a year for what is known as “miscellaneous crimes against society”, including bail offences (32) and perverting the course of justice (35).
And the 1,150 people sent away for under a year for “non-motoring” offences included nine for stalking and 605 for assault without injury.
Although sentencing guidelines offer custody length recommendations, it is ultimately up to judges and magistrates to decide on sentence lengths.