who is looking out for our kids?

Former Member

See this link http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3786611.stm

then see this :
From Journal - 31/03/2001 (Unknown words) The Journal
Two judges yesterday spoke of their concern at the justice system which prevented them from dealing with paedophiles in a suitable manner.Judge David Selwood, who was forced to release convicted paedophile Andrew Wyer back into the community, said the offender was "a grave risk" and should be placed in a secure unit with 24-hour supervision and police monitoring. But he said he was imposing a probation order because a prison sentence would have seen Wyer, 33, of Southsea, Hampshire, released immediately on to the streets.Wyer, who admitted he was tempted to abuse again, was put on a two- year probation order at Portsmouth Crown Court, following a breach of a sex offender order.Wyer had been convicted of two indecent assaults on children.The judge said he felt a prison sentence was not appropriate as the amount of time Wyer had already spent in custody would allow him to be released almost immediately.He said the best option should be a probation order providing 24-hour supervision, even if Wyer just went for a walk.Meanwhile at London's Snaresbrook Crown Court Judge Stephen Robbins spoke of his inability to jail a convicted child rapist for life after the man was found apparently "grooming" another young girl for a similar attack.Derek Flintham, 60, who was instead sentenced for five years, was caught with the schoolgirl when police visited his home during a routine call to question him about the Sarah Payne murder.When officers searched his car they discovered rolls of tape, a spray and gloves - similar to the abduction kit he and another man used during a brutal child rape more than a decade earlier.

Former Member

i say declare paedophilia as a mental illness so they can be sectioned indefenitly

Former Member

My point is that Judge Selwood has himself been charged with child pornography - or posessing pictures!

here are some of the other cases he tried...


Army brute freed

From Daily Mail - 23/11/1999 (713 words)
Deborah Collcutt
A PARATROOPER who attacked his fiancee after returning from Kosovo was set free by a judge who told him: 'Good soldiers are hard to come by.' Peter Baron, 27, faced dismissal from the Army if he was sent to jail. But Judge David Selwood yesterday gave him a conditional discharge, saying he was prepared to take an 'exceptional course' after hearing of his exemplary record in the Balkans.

He told Baron: 'This kind of assault on a woman in these domestic circumstances is a serious matter and deserving of a custodial sentence.

'However, I am going to take an exceptional course in this case. I've heard about your service and that you are a good soldier. Good soldiers are quite hard to come by nowadays.

'Hearing that Baron had spent the equivalent of five and a half months in prison waiting for his case to be dealt with, the judge added at Portsmouth Crown Court: 'You've also spent so long in custody already.' Campaigners for law reform and women's rights condemned the judge's decision.

Baron told police he grabbed fiancee Karen Rose by the neck and, using his military medical training, plunged her into unconsciousness.

He had only done it to keep her quiet because she was making too much noise during an argument after he returned from a stressful tour of duty, he said.

Miss Rose, a military nurse at the Royal Hospital Haslar in Gosport, Hampshire, suffered bruising in the attack.

Peter Glenser, prosecuting, told the court the couple had been sharing a house in nearby Bridgemary, but their relationship had been stormy. They had been out separately one day but then met in a pub where they argued.

'This carried on when they got home,' he added.

'This defendant subjected her to strangulation. She fought for breath, then lost consciousness. When she came round she was on the sofa. The argument then continued upstairs.' Baron, who admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm, was sent to Kosovo with the 1st Battalion Parachute Regiment as part of the Nato peacekeeping force.

His superior officer, Second Lieutenant Alasdair Truett, told the court: 'He performed with distinction in Kosovo. It was a very stressful time.' For Baron, Michael Selfe said: 'He accepts his conduct was way over the top of anything that could legitimately be called self defence or regarded as proper.' The judge ordered Baron to pay GBP 300 compensation to Miss Rose plus GBP 517 costs. Julie Bindel of the campaign group Justice for Women condemned Judge Selwood's decision.

Accusing the military of 'breeding' women beaters, she said the perpetrators should be dealt with harshly.

'This judge obviously obviously condones male violence against women,' she added. 'There is a definite link between soldiers and this sort of violence. ' Miss Bindel said the Ministry of Defence police should be investigating Baron's conduct.

'This man is not fit to be serving.

He should be in prison, serving a ten-year stretch for attempted murder.

'He is held up as an example of a good soldier while his victim has been used as his cannon fodder.

'Just because these men are doing a valuable job defending the country does it mean when they choose to violate women they should be excused?' The Howard League for Penal Reform also criticised the apparent imbalance between sentences for men and women in cases of violence against a partner.

Director Frances Crook, said: 'There seem to be anomalies in sentencing.

Men and women do seem to be treated differently.' Detective Inspector Frank Mason of the MoD police, said after the case: 'I hope he (Baron) accepts the chance he has been given.' The charity Refuge yesterday launched a TV advertising campaign to raise awareness about domestic violence.

Helping launch the campaign, Sheryl Gascoigne talked about the violence she suffered at the hands of her former husband Paul, the Middlesbrough footballer.

She said: 'Refuge campaign shows people that domestic violence can happen to anyone. One in four women experience domestic violence at some time in their lives.

'There is help for women experiencing domestic violence. I hope we can increase awareness and give more help to as many women and children as possible. Join me in supporting the Refuge campaign.' Refuge's chief executive Sandra Horley said: 'Domestic violence is a serious crime. We want to increase the help available to women and children as we move into the new millennium.'

Copyright 1999 Associated Newspapers Ltd.

Former Member

shit - surely there must be measures to stop him trying cases involving chil abuse like this

Former Member

Originally posted by wheresmyplacebo
i say declare paedophilia as a mental illness so they can be sectioned indefenitly

Exactly, thats what I want to happen, I've said so on here a few times.

Grim that a judge can be picked like that.

I must say I dont know a great deal about how they are picked.

Former Member

Child porn man likely to keep his Navy job -;
Case sparks anger among campaigners
From Journal - 06/12/1999 (453 words) By Neil Mckay, Chief Reporter

CAMPAIGNERS against child abuse reacted furiously to news that a Royal Navy officer from the North may keep his job after being found with hundreds of images of child pornography on his computer.
While the Royal Navy said it was "considering" the future of Chief Petty Officer Michael Heddon, whose address was given in court as Birtley, Gateshead, his superior officer told a court it was "most unlikely" he would be kicked out of the Navy.
Heddon, 33, appeared at Portsmouth Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to six counts of making indecent photographs of children in January 1998. More than 500 similar offences were asked to be taken into consideration.
Police said after the case the images included an obscene act involving a child of about three, found at his previous address in Gosport, Hampshire.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence, when asked about Heddon's future, said: "The Navy, like the other Armed services, reserves the right to take action against any personnel convicted by a crown court of any offence.
"The action we would consider depends on how the offence reflects character, trustworthiness and reputation.
"In this case we are still considering his future."
But in court last month HMS Nelson transit divisional officer Lieutenant Michael Yates said: "I find the whole incident most unfortunate - he's a very qualified man professionally.
"He's an extremely competent senior rating with sound bearing."
When asked if a non-custodial sentence would affect Heddon's career, Lt Yates said: "Most unlikely. Should he be fined, it would be left to him to manage. It will go on his record and he will be fined one day's pay and one day's time."
Heddon was spared jail, being fined £1,500 and ordered to pay £414 costs.
Sentencing Heddon, Judge David Selwood said: "Were there not people wishing to log on to view this material on the Net, there would be no call for this material. There would therefore be no call for children to be abused in front of the camera. Those who seek to download images of this kind are effectively encouraging the abuse."
Judge Selwood said he took into account Heddon's "previous good character and standing in the Navy" when not passing a custodial sentence.
But Valerie Howarth, chief executive, ChildLine, said: "Child pornography is a record on film or videotape of sexual abuse being perpetrated on children. Anyone who downloads these images is complicit in child abuse."
And a spokeswoman for Parents Together, Working Together, the support group set up after children were abused in a Newcastle nursery, said: "If the Navy allows this man to keep his job it is sending out all the wrong messages."
The judge ordered that Heddon be put on the sex offenders' register for five years and his computer be confiscated.
Copyright 1999 Newcastle Chronicle & Journal Ltd
Date: 06/12/1999

Former Member

NB - he has resigned...these are very old cases but he has since been forced to resign after being charged.