9 Months Imprisonment Harsh?

[hc4361]

This young student did a very daft thing whilst drunk, hitting a sleeping woman across the face with his flaccid penis. She knew nothing about it until workmates of his friend reported it to the police after seeing a video of it on the friend's phone.
The victim is more upset by the thought that the video is still out there and could be seen by many. This man did not video it, his friend did. This man did not share it, his friend did.

He admitted the offence straight away, has apologised and took steps to make amends.

In light of recent sentencing of celebrity gropers, do you think the sentence was right?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2803524/Student-jailed-slapping-sleeping-woman-face-penis-friend-filmed-phone.html

[Bbbananas]

A tad harsh. Considering Pistorious will more than likely only serve a short while longer for killing someone...

[FrogNog]

Okay, let's look at this a different way Bbbananas.
Say it had been a really hot day, she was dehydrated and her lips had cracked.
Say he has currrently active Herpes. Is his sentence suitable then?

[-Talbot-]

The woman must feel massively violated, not just by the act itself but also by the fact that the video has been posted online.


I don't think it was posted online, 2sp. The article says it was shown to workmates.

[DTCwordfan]

Can't compare South African verdicts with here - two different legal systems, okay with some historical linkage.

Shame they didn't nail the cameraman when they arrested the student and charged both, accessory to the crime as a minimum. Hard labour would be appropriate.

[237SJ]

I can`t imagine why someone would be devastatingly violated in that situation. I remember sitting in my friend`s living room whilst imbibing of a few Cavas and her husband came home a bit worse for wear after entertaining clients in the City and was waving his willy about behind my head. He was a bit of a wild card and I was used to him. I just told him where to go. It didn`t ruin my life. I think 9 months is a bit harsh but the person who filmed the incident and shared it around should have prosecuted IMO.

[Prudie]

I think imprisonment is far too harsh, one example where community service would be a far more worthy punishment.

[2sp_]

My mistake Talbot, still unpleasant for the woman.

[Bbbananas]

I still say harsh...

[anneasquith]

as he is unlikely to serve 9 months in prison, it's a reasonable sentence, I'd say it's sexual assault/or stupidity, and whoever filmed this incident is a plonker, I wonder what the female who was filmed thinks about the incident/sentence,

[nailit]

Victim impact statement
//It makes me think that it could still be out there in someone's possession and that anyone could have it.
'Knowing that it could exist petrifies me//

She WAS talking about the video I presume and not the 'offensive weapon'

[DTCwordfan]

I think it is harsh as well, community service should have been served. If frognog's scenario had happened, then the judge would have taken that into account and probably increased the tariff accordingly.

[TonyV]

Maybe the judge had'nt had his oats that morning?

[DTCwordfan]

A sense of strict morality, TonyV, the judge was Quaker.....

[TonyV]

Why did he not have his head covered then

[DTCwordfan]

Someone had opened the packet and torn his hat off.

[Prudie]

Whatever the judge obviously got more worked up than the culprit

[gness]

The sentence sits fine with me......and the sooner much longer sentences are handed out to men who think their dangly bits are for slapping women and violating them the better.....

[FrogNog]

My scenario could easily have been the case, which is why I feel his sentence is deserved.

[-Talbot-]

I don't think judges and juries take hypothetical scenarios into account.

[nailit]

wonder what the sentence would have been if it had been the opposite way round? A woman rubs her 'bits' in to a mans face while he was asleep and it was filmed?
Cant see a prison sentence there.