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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?

Comments31 - 40 of 129

yes the law should be immune from sympathy. Anger management and control of temper like 10 year old? Bet it was not water that caused both cases?

From dwporter_uk on Sat Apr 18 10:20PM
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he should have got three years ,did he give a dam when he committed the crime,so what if they made a fortune from the media and made a big thing of the rushed over done wedding,she was a loud mouthed,no talent waste,that got away with what a normal person never would have,loads of kids have a far worse life than she or he ever had but they dont revert to violance,icon,thats a laugh,all they do is make kids thing crime is the in thing,now we are also getting more corrupt,violent,bullies,in the police force,but with the stupid justice system that lets thugs walk is to blame,judges should be put on the stand,and held responsable as well

From clareseamarie on Sat Apr 18 10:25PM
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Jack Tweed don't need prison, he needs help. for is age, I respected him. Kindly please keep eye on him inside the cell.....I'm very sure he as learnt is lesson in a very hard way..I hope they reduce is sentence to two weeks..Also Jack please think about ur step children and ur late wife...and keep away from trouble.or next time u commit a crime u should be sentence to 5years in prison.......am sure u wont want that....

From funmi.aiyeola on Sat Apr 18 10:26PM
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Some years ago I remember reading of a case in which a pensioner was fined £20 for stealing a packet of rashers (value app £1). In the afternoon sessions (probably after a jolly good luncheon washed down with a rather decent Chablis)a paedophile was fined £10 for indecently assaulting an 8-year-old @#$%. Question: Was the pensioners crime twice as bad as that of the twisted git?

From brendan_murph on Sat Apr 18 10:30PM
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Surely when JT was found guilty of the 2nd offence he should serve out the rest of the original 18 month sentence.

From colin72jones on Sun Apr 19 12:19AM
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It is usual for someone to be sentenced much harsher a second time as you are showing that you have not learned anything from your first encounter, I feel sure that if he was not married to Jade Goody he would have seen a much harsher side. I think the truth is that this time round he had the funds to employ a better lawyer,

From catcherintheryeat on Sun Apr 19 12:55AM
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This case of that guy Tweed or Tw**t, it's proof that the courts today are in favor of even minor celebrities like that thug.... he shoul; dtry to do that with me or someone like me,. he would need a few operations to his teeth and mouth (he would shut is gob for a very long time), but as it stands he is free to do whatever he likes... the jugde should be ashamed of the sentence???? she gave that prick.... Hope one day he assaults her, so she can feel the same as that taxi driver when doinfg a job, unlike her who hasn't done a proper day's work in her entire life...

From lucia.teixeira on Sun Apr 19 12:59AM
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You can't take it with you when you go, so what is the point? What you gonna do with it when you leave this mortal coil? If you don't have relatives to leave it to, it goes to the government, so what is the point of that?

From sanddhi on Sun Apr 19 03:04AM
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They both got punished as was warranted.Did either plead guilty?You blow a lot of hot air.

From riproarer on Sun Apr 19 03:19AM
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There is a built-in possibility for sympathy in the law. It is called a judge. If you want the law to be immune from sympathy, you must a) get rid of all judges, b) rewrite all the laws so that there is a fixed sentence for each crime and c) anyone found guilty (by what or whom?) gets the sentence for the crime. Period. Is that what you want? A mechanical judicial system?
“Surely when JT was found guilty of the 2nd offence he should serve out the rest of the original 18 month sentence.
From colin72jones on Sun Apr 19 12:19AM”
Exactly. Where did the probation sentence disappear to?
And what is a violent guy like him doing getting custody of two young @#$%? If he doesn’t traumatize them by hitting them viciously too, he will set them a very poor example. Having said that, from the reports it seems the only other candidate, the mother of Jane Goody, is not a much better choice. The childcare system is as bad as can be, so this way at least they have a shot at being raised by someone who takes a personal interest. Assuming Jack isn’t just in it for the money. O well, who knows how distorted the reports are. Look at our own lives, lift a few incidents out of their context, and we can be made to look like cr*p too.

From scratchingwolf on Sun Apr 19 06:21AM
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