[Denver]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

the court accepts any plea made, that doesn't make the person innocent

Did full on sex happen?? I read sexual activity which is different to rape

[Livia]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

the court accepts any plea made, that doesn't make the person innocent

That's true, Bots. He pleaded not guilty, it was the prosecutions job to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he was guilty. And they did.

[Denver]

Originally Posted by Livia

Adam, at 12 she is a child and not at all culpable in the eyes of the law.

This story should give everyone a reminder not to take something someone tells you as gospel.

So anyone at the age of 12 who does something not illegal is not culpable?

They need to ram it into the heads of people in school this shouldn't happen

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Blurryface

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.

Because legally she can't consent to having sex, if she can then the law is redundant

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Adam.

So anyone at the age of 12 who does something not illegal is not culpable?

They need to ram it into the heads of people in school this shouldn't happen

It depends on the crime, Adam. The age of criminal responsibility is 8. The age for criminal prosecution is 12. But when it comes to rape, anyone, male or female, under the age of 16 cannot give their consent for sex because they are too young. And so it would be statutory rape.

[Cherie]

Know the person you are sleeping with, it might be boring etc but immediately jumping into bed with someone you met on a dating app is asking for trouble particularly if they claim to be 19, a 19 year old could just as easily be a 15 year old, he let what was in his trousers rule his brain and he sounds like a sad sack anyway, sharing photos with his mates, he sounds very immature

[Northern Monkey]

He ****ed up.Should’ve asked for ID.

Also her parents ****ed up.

And dating websites should be confirming peoples age before they can sign up....Somehow. To stop people ruining their lives.Surely they have a duty of care for their customers(him and her)?

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Northern Monkey

He ****ed up.Should’ve asked for ID.

Also her parents ****ed up.

And dating websites should be confirming peoples age before they can sign up....Somehow. To stop people ruining their lives.Surely they have a duty of care for their customers(him and her)?

It's the wild and lawless Internet, isn't it Monkey. Somewhere, there is an adult responsible for this child... parent, social worker, someone... who should have been checking her Internet access.

[Denver]

Another reason mobile phones should be illegally for under 16s

[Morgan.]

Originally Posted by Adam.

Another reason mobile phones should be illegally for under 16s

I mean that’s a bit far lmao

[thesheriff443]

He lost his job home and freedom, would he have done it if he knew her true age?

[arista]

Originally Posted by Cherie

Know the person you are sleeping with, it might be boring etc but immediately jumping into bed with someone you met on a dating app is asking for trouble particularly if they claim to be 19, a 19 year old could just as easily be a 15 year old, he let what was in his trousers rule his brain and he sounds like a sad sack anyway, sharing photos with his mates, he sounds very immature

Yes Great Points Cherie

[Northern Monkey]

Originally Posted by Livia

It's the wild and lawless Internet, isn't it Monkey. Somewhere, there is an adult responsible for this child... parent, social worker, someone... who should have been checking her Internet access.

Yep.I’ve already told mine that they’re not having phones until they’re 15.

[thesheriff443]

As to knowing someone’s age, my daughter is 24 and I’ve yet again today had to buy an 18 dvd for her as they think she is too young

[LukeB]

Originally Posted by Amy Jade

They should ban her from the internet or have it monitored.

This is a bit sensitive but when I was ill a few years back my mum found out I had been using a pro-ana message board and she got me help and monitored my internet usage.

Yeah ban her internet and her parents should have been monitoring her internet anyway. It’s scary to think so many people who are under 16 are lying about their age and signing up to dating sites when they shouldn’t, i think dating sites should ask for proof of age. He should have done checks but she shouldn’t have lied.

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by Adam.

Another reason mobile phones should be illegally for under 16s

That's a ridiculous statement.

[Shaun]

I'd like to think it was impossible to believe a 12 year old was above 16, let alone 19...

[Denver]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

That's a ridiculous statement.

Clearly not if the parents are failing their jobs.

Social services should be involved because clearly this woman is a terrible parent

[Marsh.]

I know teenagers can look older than they are, but 12 seems too young for her to be believable as 19.

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Adam.

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

Originally Posted by Adam.

She has ruined his life so that's a lie

Nobody's life would be ruined if the adult (ie. the 27 year old for clarification) acted like one.

[Toy Soldier]

I call bull**** on him believing she was 19,though I doubt he realised she was as young as 12. For obvious protection reasons there won't be pictures of her in any article but had anyone realistically EVER seen a 12 year old that could pass for 19? 15/16 at the very most.

Though let's say he did think she was a young looking 19... Still an idiot to go there without actually figuring it out - and as an adult, it is his responsibility to be sure.

However I do agree that in terms of what harm has come to the girl, judging by the article, her family is far more responsible for this mess. Also possibly the services surrounding her may have let her down - although that's hard to say. They may have been trying without success. I would be very, very surprised if this was the first or only guy she's been involved with... This is just the time that it's been discovered.

Blaming the girl is ridiculous though, for a 12 year old to be acting like this her life must have been all sorts of messed up, and while that's not an excuse for an adult, she's 12 years old and can't possibly understand the consequences. Suggesting that she be punished is like saying my kid should have been prosecuted for shoplifting the time when she was 2 and hid a bag of chocolate brioche in her buggy on the way round Co op.

[Morgan.]

Originally Posted by thesheriff443

As to knowing someone’s age, my daughter is 24 and I’ve yet again today had to buy an 18 dvd for her as they think she is too young

Does she not carry ID

[Morgan.]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

I call bull**** on him believing she was 19,though I doubt he realised she was as young as 12. For obvious protection reasons there won't be pictures of her in any article but had anyone realistically EVER seen a 12 year old that could pass for 19? 15/16 at the very most.

Though let's say he did think she was a young looking 19... Still an idiot to go there without actually figuring it out - and as an adult, it is his responsibility to be sure.

However I do agree that in terms of what harm has come to the girl, judging by the article, her family is far more responsible for this mess. Also possibly the services surrounding her may have let her down - although that's hard to say. They may have been trying without success. I would be very, very surprised if this was the first or only guy she's been involved with... This is just the time that it's been discovered.

Blaming the girl is ridiculous though, for a 12 year old to be acting like this her life must have been all sorts of messed up, and while that's not an excuse for an adult, she's 12 years old and can't possibly understand the consequences. Suggesting that she be punished is like saying my kid should have been prosecuted for shoplifting the time when she was 2 and hid a bag of chocolate brioche in her buggy on the way round Co op.

There’s a difference between 12 and 2 lmao

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Blurryface

There’s a difference between 12 and 2 lmao

Just as there's a difference between 12 and 19.

[thesheriff443]

Originally Posted by Blurryface

Does she not carry ID

No, I must get her passport re done.