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Judicial priorities: Possessions over people

Sat Apr 18 04:52PM

This week there have been two high-profile prison sentences made by British courts which have highlighted big flaws in our judicial system.

The first decision came on Tuesday 14^th April when Jack Tweed (right) was sentenced to a 12-week jail sentence for an assault on a taxi driver. The chairwoman for Harlow Magistrates' Court said that Tweed's sentence was reduced from 18 weeks because of a "recent change in his personal circumstances" - Jade Goody's death. Of this 12-week sentence Jack will only have to spend six weeks in prison.

The conviction was the second time in six months that Tweed had been found guilty of assault. In September, he was given an 18-month jail sentence after being found guilty of hitting a 16-year-old boy with a golf club. He was released from prison in January, having to wear a monitoring tag and observe a curfew. It was during this time that the attack on the taxi driver took place.

Speaking after the hearing Tweed's solicitor, George Kampanella, said: "The family are devastated and feel that Jack has been treated more severely because of who he is. We are considering the prospects of an appeal."

Compare this to a more recent decision where Aaron Billington (left) was on Thursday 16^th April sentenced to a 20-week jail term for vandalising Jamiroquai frontman Jay Kay's Ferrari.

Billington inflicted nearly £10,000 of damage to the vehicle after seeing a girl he had an "emotional attachment to" go to the star's hotel room. He was also allegedly mocked by Jay Kay because of his stutter. Billington, who admitted criminal damage as well as failing to answer bail and leaving bed and breakfast accommodation and an Indian restaurant without paying, was jailed for a total of 20 weeks.

First of all there should be questions raised about whether a court should take into account the death of a loved one when handing down a sentence. Should the law be immune from sympathy?

Secondly, even without the six-week reduction in Jack Tweed's sentence because of Jade's death, he would have served a smaller sentence for assaulting a man than Aaron Billington will for damaging a car.

It's no secret that our laws are centred on possessions more than people but these examples just highlight how wrong they can be. Why is the legal system still deeming crime against people a lower priority than crimes against material objects?

Comments11 - 20 of 129

Re 8 stacey.hayley. Even though we're talking only a few weeks difference as you say, I believe it's another case of "it's not the amount, it's the principle".
Secondly, I agree that if a criminal is hurt whilst carrying out a crime it should be considered an occupational hazard and their human rights automatically waived as soon as they decide to disregard the basic rights of others.

From glennstory2005 on Sat Apr 18 06:23PM
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Why should JAKE Tweed get away with a lighter sentance just because who he was married to He know what was going on when he Married Jade
poor girl i fill for her having lost to sisters with cancer But to let Him Jack tTweed get of so lightly is way out of order i only hope that he is not allowed any where those two little boys not a very good roll model is he the thug

From valeriehoy1 on Sat Apr 18 06:29PM
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It seems Tweeds Judge must have been a Jade Goody Fan!
The way Tweed has evaded heavy penalties, Stinks. But the likes of Pete Doherty, Speeding Judges, Pop stars, film stars, footballers, etc evading sentences because of their status is nothing new! - This sort of Bias MUST stop! . . .Remember though billington had other crimes hanging on him too?

From garenacreman on Sat Apr 18 06:29PM
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It proves that our judicial system is all in favour of so called "celebs..!" I remember that Jay Kay has attacked reporters in the past with no come back..! Our system is a joke..!!

From kittykatwitch on Sat Apr 18 06:40PM
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4 - god isn't proven and many don't believe

From chester30 on Sat Apr 18 06:54PM
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Could you get your facts straight? the attack on the taxi driver was not since he was released but before he was imprison previously. I think that Jack Tweed learnt from his first prison spell and therefor I feel that it's a waste of tax payers money to put him inside again. Community work would have been a much better and worthwhile punishment.
How much would it cost to put him back inside?? Money much better being spent on more care for someone else or towards grievance counselors for children who have just lost their parents.

From reidsmum2002 on Sat Apr 18 07:14PM
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The police force was formed to protect property not people. I won't say what type of people they were protecting the property from.

From chromeidol@ymail.com on Sat Apr 18 07:22PM
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with a bit of luck he will get a kicking inside, might calm him down a little.

From thompson961 on Sat Apr 18 07:38PM
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are they trying to tell us something we have know for a long time ,just how out of touch are these people

From cunnigh835 on Sat Apr 18 07:43PM
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What is that woman 'reidsmum2002' on ??! Who cares when Jack Tweed attacked that taxi driver.. the fact is he DID & should pay 4 his actions.. dont think that woman be banging on about community work if her of her family were beaten by a mindless pratt.. who 'got lucky' marring a so called star!! Wake-up & get real.. i would have given him longer 4 not learning his lesson !!!!!!!

From elainetorrington579 on Sat Apr 18 07:47PM
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