Suspended sentencing

Post by **spot** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 5:19 pm

At the risk of creating a new Oscar...

I cannot for the life of me see why this sentence was either so short or suspended. Other than class solidarity on the part of the judge, of course.

BBC News - Ex-golf captain sentenced for disability benefit con

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 5:48 pm

Seven years before they figured this out. Here your status is checked every 2 years by doctors other than yours same for workers compensation benefits.

Post by **spot** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 6:00 pm

And so they should, Carla. And crimes should be detected and investigated and prosecuted and sentenced impartially, uniformly, without bias and without exception. I doubt whether that sentence was typical though I'd be interested to be shown one way or the other.

Scrat · Post by **Scrat** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 6:25 pm

Does she at least have to return the money?

Post by **spot** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 6:43 pm

Scrat;1350401 wrote: Does she at least have to return the money?

That's a very good question. The law in England includes provision for the confiscation of assets from the proceeds of crime. It would surprise me very much if the £40,842 were not recoverable. Whether the court ordered it is another matter. I shall keep an eye open for more information.

Post by **spot** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 6:50 pm

Bloody hell, this is disgraceful...

Two previous convictions for shoplifting dating back to 1994/95? Just seven years before she started this current con trick?

Lewis is paying back the money at a rate of £10 a week, deducted from her incapacity benefit?

Judge Stephen Clarke, at the risk of holding your court in contempt, I most certainly hold your judgment in contempt. That is the most appallingly unjust leniency I've heard of in my life and you should resign from the bench. What on earth were you thinking?

Former golf club captain in £40,000 benefits fraud » Communities » 24dash.com

Post by **LarsMac** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 9:36 pm

Wait.

She is still collecting benefits?

Even after being proved to be quite capable of getting around?

And, she is paying back the money she conned from the money she is still conning them out of?

Am I missing something?

And, did the court verify the defense claims of husband's strokes, and her parents health issues?

Post by **spot** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 9:58 pm

I think yes, yes, yes, no and it's immaterial, her entire family could be dying slowly and painfully for all I care and her too if it comes to that, she should be in jail serving three years while court officials liquidate her estate for repayment of the stolen money. Except some totally deviant judge called Stephen Clarke suspended his already derisory five month prison term "as a measure of sympathy". I can only assume he was due to retire next week and wanted to demonstrate what a farce the English justice system has become during his tenure.

Post by **LarsMac** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 11:00 pm

I only ask about the family thing since the woman's lawyer made an issue of it with his plea for leniency, and it seemed to be relevant to the judge suspending the sentence. It would be yet another affront to the system to have not at least verified the assertions of the Defense.

YZGI · Post by **YZGI** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 11:14 am

She should be able to retain her country club membership with only losing 10 a week. I'm moving to the UK. I'll bring my clubs.

flopstock · Post by **flopstock** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 12:13 pm

YZGI;1350479 wrote: She should be able to retain her country club membership with only losing 10 a week. I'm moving to the UK. I'll bring my clubs.

Colorado Springs looks promising too..lol

All in the family: Welfare fraud allegedly spanned 3 generations | family, fraud, generations - Public Safety - Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

koan · Post by **koan** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 5:36 pm

Great. Next thing we know "hole-in-1" is going to sign up, threaten the site and become the next word game champ.

Post by **spot** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 6:09 pm

It could be worse - it could be the judge.

Scrat · Post by **Scrat** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 9:31 pm

I don't know guys and gals, I'm getting to the point where I just say get rid of all this government aid crap. My wifes been involved in immigrant matters (she's a councilor/researcher) here for some time now and you wouldn't believe the crap that goes on. You can complain and write letters and all of that but it goes nowhere. There's a lot of immigrants, well established in this country taking much needed funds from those who truly need it.

Post by **spot** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 10:00 pm

Social Security and fraud are two entirely different topics. Fraud should be prosecuted. Social Security is an essential component of any civilized community. There's no contradiction in that.