The High Court, after urging from the Attorney General, have increased the sentences of two men who (separately) raped young girls. Yes, a victory you think, except that they sentences were doubled from 2 to 4 years.

One of the men, Simon Foster, thought his victim was 15 years old - still making her under the age of consent. She was actually 12. The other man, Keith Fenn, claimed to believe his victim was 16, she was 10.

Comment from the legal practiioners involved has been, well, rather odd. Det Insp Simon Snell from Devon and Cornwall Police said:
“We believe that this sentence reflects the seriousness of the crime committed”.

Whilst Baroness Scotland, the Attorney General said
“The message must be that sexual activity with girls of 10 and 12 will not be tolerated,”

Am I alone in thinking that 4 years for raping a 10 year really isn’t sending that message? Especially when she went on to say:

“Keith Fenn and Simon Foster’s victims were young and vulnerable girls, there was a considerable disparity in age between the offenders and victims and the sentences fell substantially short of the sentencing guidelines issued by the independent Sentencing Guidelines Council.”

Quotes and Info from BBC News

Posted by Louise Livesey on 13 October 2007, at 8:57 PM