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Convicted child sex offender walks free (From thisisoxfordshire)
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Convicted child sex offender walks free
6:30am Saturday 18th July 2009
A CHILDREN’S charity last night described a decision to allow a sex offender to go free as “disturbing”.
Richard Graves, 53, was convicted of sexual activity with a child and causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, after an incident last year.
Judge Julian Hall had warned Graves he faced jail but instead issued a supervision order and told him to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register at a hearing on Thursday.
The eight-year-old victim’s grandmother shouted: “Another lenient sentence from Judge Hall!" as she stormed out of the court.
The court heard the sports coach inappropriately touched the boy, who was playing with other children in Graves’ swimming pool.
Graves, of Towersey, Thame, said: “I did not do anything of which I am ashamed or would not have done in front of anyone else. I was simply tickling [the child] which I had done before and he had liked it.”
But evidence from the child, the boy’s father, and other relatives convinced the jury of Graves’ guilt.
Judge Hall said: “I have the unenviable task of deciding where in the scale of sexual offences this falls. Should this man go to prison for an offence at the lower end of that scale? I also have to consider that Mr Graves sufferers from Crohn’s disease. There are difficulties with dealing with that in prison.”
But children’s charity Kidscape director Claude Knights said: “It is difficult to accept that sexual activity with a child under 13 could ever be regarded as at the ‘lower end of the sexual offences scale’.
“Judge Hall is certainly sending out a difficult message both to the young victim’s family and to all those who are concerned with the protection of children from predators.”
Judge Hall disqualified the rugby and cricket coach from working with children for life. He also imposed a Sexual Offences Prevention Order lasting 10 years.
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Your Say YourOxfordshire
William Windsor, Oxford says...
10:01am Sat 18 Jul 09
Perhaps it would be an idea for The Oxford Mail to do some 'investigative' journalism (surely someone there remembers what 'journalism' is) having seen the obvious disgust at this man by all who have commented on this board over the months.
jf, Oxfordshire says...
10:54am Sat 18 Jul 09
You can't go around doing that to children and then have an excuse for an illness to make it OK!
Judge Hall-should be fired! He is sending the message out-it's OK what you have done- because your not well!
Such injustice for the families involved!
A petition should be set up"SACK JUDGE HALL FOR INCOMPETENCE!!
cuckoo, oxford says...
3:17pm Sat 18 Jul 09
Why hasn't this man been dismissed from his position as judge???
Sophia, Oxford says...
4:40pm Sat 18 Jul 09
Roger Casement, Frejus says...
5:03pm Sat 18 Jul 09
burro, Abingdon says...
8:11pm Sat 18 Jul 09
Broken Statue, Wantage says...
5:20am Sun 19 Jul 09
Roger Casement, Frejus says...
7:17am Sun 19 Jul 09
Yellow exile, Brentford says...
12:07pm Sun 19 Jul 09
jf, Oxfordshire says...
1:52pm Sun 19 Jul 09
Yellow exile wrote:Hi Yellow
Suggest read the reporting on this on Thame.net, includes a statement from victim's family.
Can you say where it is exactly please?
I copied and pasted Thame.net as you suggested-all I got was tourism?
Any suggestions please?
Noodle999, Witney says...
3:03pm Sun 19 Jul 09
Does this mean I can commit whatever offence I like and have a Judge take this into account during sentencing?
Flash971, Wantage says...
8:45am Mon 20 Jul 09
scotland2, says...
4:24pm Mon 20 Jul 09
PU30, Thame says...
3:10pm Thu 23 Jul 09
.net/readmore.asp?Co
ntent_ID=4565&
The reporting here is far more comprehensive.
What the OM has also failed to highlight is the fact that he lied on oath and later admitted his guilt do doubt to influence the Judge. Which seems to have worked.
He should have been looked up for a long time. Illness would have made prison difficult…good.
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Tom Cranmer, Oxford says...
8:34am Sat 18 Jul 09