Originally Posted by Blurryface (Post 10436432)

It’s a tough one. He didn’t know obviously, but 12 year olds and 19 year olds can have lots of differences and he probably could’ve done more checks. But she should be having consequences too - she knew what she was doing.

Originally Posted by Livia (Post 10436433)

He broke the law, ignorance is no excuse. However, surely the mother must have wondered where her 12 year old child was? She would have known that she was registered on a dating site, because who lets their 12 year old free on the Internet? Maybe social services should be involved, if they're not already.

Originally Posted by Niamh. (Post 10436434)

The 12 year old should have consequences? The child you mean, know what she was doing with all her vast experiences? Lock her up maybe? For what exactly?

Anyway ontopic, it's a tough one, if her genuinely believed she was older but I can't see how a 12 year old could look 18 (which tbf if you're meeting people through an app like that you should really make sure if they look borderline) Also sending naked photos of her to his friends, grim

Originally Posted by Liam- (Post 10436437)

I’m of the belief that anyone underage that lies about their age to sleep with someone should face consequences, it can ruin people’s lives, especially if they have fake id’s to get into clubs and stuff, cause if you meet someone in a club and they’re drinking you’re bound to assume that they’re above 18.

However, in this case, I refuse to believe that you wouldn’t know that someone was 12 years old :joker:

Originally Posted by Blurryface (Post 10436438)

You don’t set up a dating profile posing as someone older, meet up with a guy and have sex for an after homework activity exactly though.

I’m not saying lock her up - but she’s not innocent in this.

Originally Posted by Niamh. (Post 10436439)

At 12 though, they're only kids, 12 is too young to say they should "know what they're doing" etc If a 12 year old is doing this kind of stuff, they have issues that need dealing with, maybe a bad up bringing or mental health issues imo

Originally Posted by Niamh. (Post 10436436)

It says in the article :

The girl, who is known to regularly go missing from home,

Originally Posted by Livia (Post 10436445)

Then Social Services are involved. Someone's let this kid down, not just the man who slept with her.

Originally Posted by Niamh. (Post 10436443)

She's a kid ffs If the age of consent is 17 (or 16 in the UK?) why is that? Is it because people under that age are deemed to not be old enough mentally or emotionally (and physically)? yet you think they should be old enough to be punished for some sort of sexual entrapment? If that's the case why have age limits on anything at all?

Originally Posted by Blurryface (Post 10436447)

And the age of criminal responsibility is 12, therefore she’s old enough to know what she did was wrong.

I’m not saying he’s any less in the wrong but she is partly responsible.

Originally Posted by Blurryface (Post 10436447)

And the age of criminal responsibility is 12, therefore she’s old enough to know what she did was wrong.

I’m not saying he’s any less in the wrong but she is partly responsible.

Originally Posted by Livia (Post 10436451)

Whether or not she knew what she was doing, if you have intercourse with a person under the age of 16, it is statutory rape whether or not the girl consents. She cannot legally give her consent because she's underage.

Originally Posted by Adam. (Post 10436452)

She shouldn't be allowed to ruin people's lives because she is only 12

Originally Posted by Adam. (Post 10436452)

She shouldn't be allowed to ruin people's lives because she is only 12

Originally Posted by Niamh. (Post 10436453)

Exactly. If she is also punished it makes the whole statuary rape law redundant really.

Originally Posted by Blurryface (Post 10436456)

How so? He’s still being punished for his actions but she’s catfished him and posed as someone she isn’t to have sex - that’s messed up.