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Smirking.
Smirking at soft justice Britain: Thug, 18, poses for a selfie outside court after dodging prison for a SECOND knife offence amid mounting concerns over soft justice
Kyle Davis, 18, received suspended sentence at Birmingham Magistrates' Court
Teenager pleaded guilty to possession of a knife and possession of cocaine
Davis had previously received a police caution for possessing a knife aged 14
Anti-knife crime campaigners expressed outrage after Davis avoided prison
A suspected drug dealer with a history of carrying a blade dodged jail yesterday.
Kyle Davis, 18, was given a suspended sentence despite being caught with cocaine and a knife – his second weapons offence.
The case, which comes amid mounting fury at the number of teenage stab victims, will fuel concerns about soft justice for knife offenders.
Davis laughed as he swaggered out of Birmingham magistrates’ court, taking a selfie on his phone to record his glee at escaping prison.
Only a few miles away three teenagers had lost their lives in 12 days of carnage that police leaders described as a ‘national emergency’.
In London, two boys aged 15 – one caught with a hooked knife and the other with two hidden blades – were let off with youth rehabilitation orders yesterday.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6775041/Knife-thug-18-receives-suspended-jail-term-admitting-blade-offence.html
Kyle Davis, 18, received suspended sentence at Birmingham Magistrates' Court
Teenager pleaded guilty to possession of a knife and possession of cocaine
Davis had previously received a police caution for possessing a knife aged 14
Anti-knife crime campaigners expressed outrage after Davis avoided prison
A suspected drug dealer with a history of carrying a blade dodged jail yesterday.
Kyle Davis, 18, was given a suspended sentence despite being caught with cocaine and a knife – his second weapons offence.
The case, which comes amid mounting fury at the number of teenage stab victims, will fuel concerns about soft justice for knife offenders.
Davis laughed as he swaggered out of Birmingham magistrates’ court, taking a selfie on his phone to record his glee at escaping prison.
Only a few miles away three teenagers had lost their lives in 12 days of carnage that police leaders described as a ‘national emergency’.
In London, two boys aged 15 – one caught with a hooked knife and the other with two hidden blades – were let off with youth rehabilitation orders yesterday.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6775041/Knife-thug-18-receives-suspended-jail-term-admitting-blade-offence.html
Comments
I guess key to the debate is understanding why 15year old kids feel the need to carry a knife. If they feel the need to carry a knife for fear of their life then stronger punishments probably wouldn't deter them.
Also, what are people's views on police numbers and this issue? If there were higher numbers of police on the street would kids feel safer and therefore be less likely to carry?
I don't know if he is a drugs dealer-I do know that he wasn't charged with being one, nor does he appear to have a conviction for it.
"History of carrying a blade?" Him and how many thousands of others? Just how many new prisons are we going to build? He doesn't appear to have a history of USING one.
"Laughed....swaggered...glee." If ANYONE thinks they might go to prison and don't, they are happy about it. You, me, anyone.
Some people were stabbed recently near that caught-what does that have to do with him? If something, charge him. If not, then don't suggest otherwise.
There are only 2 results likely from this story. He may get attacked. Or, IF he is a drug dealer, he has just had some massive free publicity.
And people are NOT "let off" with rehabilitation orders-they receive the education they so desperately need. As opposed to going to the "finishing school" that prisons are fast becoming.
More of the article,
The Mail attended a number of magistrates and youth courts yesterday and saw a string of knife offenders escape jail.
Davis was spared a custodial punishment despite sentencing guidelines dictating repeat knife offenders should face a minimum six-month sentence and a maximum of four years.
He had been caught carrying a knife at school at the age of 14, for which he received a police caution.
Last September the teenager from Erdington in Birmingham was stopped by officers who suspected he was dealing drugs.
Davis fled but was captured with a lock knife, five bags of cannabis and three wraps of cocaine.
He admitted possessing the knife and drugs and received a six-month prison sentence suspended for two years after obtaining a reference from a charity called Bringing Hope.
Sean Evans, the chairman of the bench, told him: ‘We believe you have the character to change and we want to give you that opportunity.’
Natasha Bournes, defending, claimed the aspiring electrical engineer was trying drugs for the first time.
Davis was told to carry out 280 hours of unpaid work and 40 days of rehabilitation. He must also pay £300 in costs.
After the hearing, his lawyer told the Mail: ‘A suspended sentence can be more onerous than a custodial sentence of six months because now he is going to have this hanging over him for two years.’
But the sentence provoked fury from knife campaigners.
Alison Cope, 45, who campaigns against knife crime after her son Joshua Ribero was stabbed to death, said: ‘No wonder he’s laughing and smiling.
'The courts are showing, yet again, that when it comes to the crunch the consequences of carrying a knife aren’t what the authorities are making out.
‘The Government say they are making a massive deal about knife crime. But are they really? Police and the CPS will have worked hard to get this case to court and the magistrates have just gone, “Don’t worry about it, off you go”.’ The case follows the fatal stabbings of three teenagers, which led to West Midlands police and crime commissioner David Jamieson declaring a ‘national emergency’.
Ministry of Justice figures show that 18 per cent of repeat knife offenders are not jailed, and a further 19 per cent escape immediate custody by getting a suspended sentence.
At Highbury Corner youth court in north London yesterday a 16-year-old thug, who had previously been caught with a knife and convicted of attempted robbery, was given a year-long rehabilitation order for brandishing a Rambo knife at a man in the street.
At Ealing magistrates’ court in west London, a 15-year-old boy caught with two blades was handed a 24-month youth rehabilitation order. The court was told the convicted thief had been groomed to sell drugs for a gang.
Theresa Mays argument that there is not a cororally between police numbers and knife crime beggars belief.
If you follow that argument through it would mean that you wouldn't have any police.
Severe punishment will be a deterrent for many people, while no real punishment will deter nobody.
Children as young as 13 are being stabbed in a tide of violence sweeping Britain, but the reason for the spike is the subject of fierce argument.
A report by the government cited drug dealing and social media as key drivers, but police have called for more funding to turn around the loss of thousands of officers and voluntary groups are attacking cuts to youth services.
The debate continues amid a bleak background of rising knife crime, which rose by 22 per cent across England and Wales in 2017 – the biggest annual increase ever recorded.
Knife crime in England and Wales increases by largest margin ever
Almost 40,000 offences involving knives or sharp weapons were recorded by police in the year, according figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which said “high harm” criminal offences have been building over the past two years.
There have been more than 60 murders in London alone since the start of this year, amid a spate of stabbings and shootings that saw two teenagers murdered in one night earlier this month.
Junior Smart, of youth charity the St Giles Trust, fears the situation could worsen as the school summer holidays approach.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/violent-knife-crime-rise-stabbing-murders-reasons-increase-london-why-a8326171.html
I don’t think it’s as straightforward as increase police numbers and crime falls, it’s all across the board where Austerity measures have had a massive impact , the services designed to help families with young kids have been either cut to the bone or cancelled .
It’s a vicious circle, also the reporting on the knife crimes has on some cases increased the likelihood of kids/young adults carrying knives .
A massive shake up in funding is needed, in schools, social services, youth projects, police, (fire service, hospitals )etc etc.
Give our youth a chance in life
It's easy to say but some of the issues result from poor/lack of parenting....and the appropriate level of police response at the time
The age at which we educate children is the key...
eg
It's not a knife or serious issue, but many years ago my son and his mate as 2 14 yr olds stole a bottle of orange juice off a step- because the house was owned by an Asian guy who had suffered racial abuse at his home , he had CCTV so my lad was caught on camera.
A trip to the Police station, a conversation I had with a senior officer about scaring the c rap out of my son, resulting in him being fingerprinted/DNA swab and a stern talking to.
About a year later, another daft incident but this time with some criminal damage, police then came to speak to my son; they could identify him from his DNA on a **** butt!
He learnt his lesson....
We need to to educate parents more as to the consequences of their children's actions as well as the kids
Also I thought there was a mandatory custodial sentence for carrying a knife? ( repeat offence) Thought it was non negotiable?? Phil; my legal counsel???
The police seem to be living in the past, rather than evolving as crime changes.
Not coming out for burglaries, and shoplifting, sends the wrong message.
Much of their time seems to be spent resolving Twitter complaints.
Our sentencing of criminals leaves a lot to be desired.
1. Mrs May was using words in a sneaky way. She said there was no DIRECT link between numbers of police and crime. That is true. However, there is an INDIRECT link between the 2.
2. We send more people to prison per head of population than anyone in the developed world, other than the US. It is just plain wrong to have mandatory sentences for anything. Punish the worst examples more, and the less serious ones less. That is what a civilised society does. That and fund our police properly.
Some commentators suggest that the increasing crime figures, combined with falling police numbers, is proof in itself.
Some attacks just aren't taken seriously.
Youth who used 'Zombie Killer' machete to stab boy to death had just completed anti-knife crime course
A knife-obsessed youth who killed a 17-year-old boy with a “Zombie Killer” machete had just completed a government-backed knife awareness course following a previous conviction for carrying a blade.
Blaise Lewinson was aged just 16 when he stabbed Stefan Appleton with the jagged-edged weapon in a busy north London park last year.
Lewinson can be named for the first time after an anonymity order was lifted.
The Old Bailey heard the killer has a previous conviction for possession of a lock knife, and at the time of the manslaughter had just completed the Metropolitan Police's Knife Crime Prevention Programme.
The national scheme, backed by the Home Office since 2008, is offered to young people caught with knives to “explore attitudes to carrying knives and the ‘rules’ young people apply to their lives”.
The courses also examine the “legal implications of the use of knives” and the injuries they can cause, as well as including testimony from victims about how they were affected by a knife attack.
[Stefan] was plainly unarmed and you stabbed him on the ground while he was defending himself
Judge Richard Hone
Lewinson was jailed for life and will serve a minimum of nine years for Stefan’s killing.
The court heard last month how Lewinson and another 17-year-old arrived at Nightingale Park, Islington, on a stolen moped on a sunny evening in June last year.
Wearing a hood and a balaclava he jumped off the bike and unsheathed the Zombie Killer machete, with a 2ft blade.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/05/13/youth-who-used-zombie-killer-machete-to-stab-boy-to-death-had-ju/
The moment a furious cyclist armed with huge 'zombie knife' smashes car window | ITV News
Joshua Gardner: Croydon teen in 'zombie' knife attack spared jail
A teenager who was filmed trying to smash a car window with a huge 'zombie-style' knife in Croydon has walked free from court.
Joshua Gardner was 17 at the time of the attack when he was seen by shocked witnesses wielding the large weapon in London Road on May 30.
It was after he was almost knocked from his bike that he pulled out the knife and tried to break a car's window during the terrifying incident.
Dashcam footage from another vehicle showed Gardner, who is now 18, attempting to force his way in from the passenger’s side of the vehicle before the driver was forced to flee.
Soon after, the video went viral online before Gardner admitted to affray and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place.
He went on trial at the Old Bailey this week on November 27 and received a two-year prison sentence for grievous bodily harm (GBH), as well as a year's imprisonment for both affray and possession of an offensive weapon or bladed article respectively.
All three were to run concurrently and suspended for two years.
The teenager, from London Road, was also ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and be subjected to a curfew for the next nine months.
https://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/17260790.joshua-gardner-croydon-teen-in-zombie-knife-attack-spared-jail/
This on many occasions seems not to fit with the crime committed.
Discounts are available for guilty pleas, and good behaviour.
Ok guilty pleas save money, but shouldn't we just demand good behaviour, and dole out more time for bad behaviour.
Yes he should have.
The minimum on the other one seems low.
Hmm I know what I'd like to be brave enough to do to this perpetrator if that happened to one of my children, where the attack was clearly and factually proven to be without any provocation... I never used come from the 'eye for an eye' point of view...certain cases make me reconsider
We are just a bit soft.
I watched a programme the other night, which was nothing to do with this.
It was about a murder case, which occurred in 1988.
A 22 year old woman went missing, and a guy was later found guilty of her murder.
He refuses to tell the police where the body is.
So her parents and family have been unable to have a funeral.
This has obviously caused them a lot of distress.
He should have to come clean about the body, before being considered for parole.
They have been campaigning for this, so far without success.