One of the good things about the United States is that this type of insanity cannot happen here. Still shocking to see that in the UK, judges are apparently allowed to make their own laws. Judge releases pedophile into the community Published: Mon, April 1, 2013 Pervert Mark Martin (pictured) has been spared jail by a controversial judge despite being caught with child porn while already on a suspended prison sentence Judge Peter Bowers A soft-touch judge provoked more controversy today after refusing to jail a paedophile caught with child pornography for a second time because he would 'suffer badly' in prison. Judge Peter Bowers let Mark Martin walk free despite being found with more sick images while already on a suspended jail sentence. His decision comes months after he caused public outrage for describing a serial burglar as 'courageous'. At the time, he was criticised for his choice of words, which which were branded a 'serious error of judgement', when opting not to jail Richard Rochford, 26, in September last year. Rochford was instead given a one-year prison sentence, suspended for 18 months. Following an investigation, the Lord Chancellor and Lord Chief Justice upheld complaints about the judge's comments and issued him with a reprimand after his remarks 'damaged public confidence in the judicial process'. In the latest case, Martin was already on a suspended jail sentence for making indecent images when police found more indecent pictures on his mobile phone. The 24-year-old had also been using his brother's computer to download other vile pictures of young boys and girls. At Teesside Crown Court on Friday, Judge Peter Bowers passed another suspended sentence, and told Martin: 'This really is your last chance.' Campaigners branded the most recent let-off 'remarkably short-sighted' and said the jobless shop worker should have been locked up. Martin, of Dent Street, Hartlepool, got a 12-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, with probation service supervision. In 2009, he was given a similar punishment and was ordered to go on a sex offenders' treatment programme to cure his 'addiction'. A Sexual Offences Prevention Order was also made which banned him from putting anti-forensic software on his computers which would hide his internet history. Police visited his home in February last year to check on his internet activity and ask about his computer use, the court heard. He claimed not to have the internet and when he was asked by officers about his mobile phone, he reacted 'suspiciously'. Prosecutor Sue Jacobs told the court that a total of 48 still and moving images of child abuse - some in the worst category - were found. Martin Scarborough, mitigating, said Martin knew he faced prison, but had shown 'genuine remorse' and was candid with police. Judge Bowers told him: 'You present quite a problem for me because, in theory, you had breached the suspended sentence. 'As most people will know, if people do breach a suspended sentence, then it is almost inevitable they go straight away to prison. 'But I have read with some concern about you, and this addiction you have had of looking at pornography of little children. 'I think you would suffer very badly in prison and I don't think, at the moment, it is necessary to send you there today. 'I am going to give you another suspended sentence, but you have got to understand it is the very last chance you are ever going to get. 'You are probably doing the right thing not to have any internet access... it is a temptation you will find very hard to resist.' The National Association of People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC) last night described the decision not to jail Mark Martin as 'strange by any standard'. Acting operations manager, Dr Jon Bird, said: 'This is a remarkably short-sighted decision in my opinion. 'We know that people who have this kind of problem need help to control it, but the sympathy should only go so far. 'Two suspended sentences in a row is strange, by any standards. In prison this kind of offender would be segregated for his protection. 'I imagine he is at home laughing about how he fooled a judge. 'There has to be a strong deterrent enforced on these criminals who cause so much pain to their victims.' JUDGE PETER BOWERS NO STRANGER TO CONTROVERSY AND CONTRADICTION IN 20-YR CAREER Peter Bowers, 67, a married father-of-three, has been no stranger to controversy in his 20-year career as a judge. Three years ago, he allowed a violent thug to walk free from court despite admitting that the public think judges are 'going mad' for passing soft sentences. In another case, he told a man who led police on a ten-mile car chase after trying to kill himself: 'Next time you want to commit suicide find somewhere quiet to do it.' More recently, he has made contradictory comments about burglary sentencing. In May last year, he criticised sentencing guidelines that let first-time burglars escape with a 'slap across the wrist'. But weeks later, he allowed a man with almost 80 crimes on his record to walk free for a burglary committed four days after his release from prison, telling the court: âI must be getting soft in my old age.â Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...n-hed-hard-time-prison.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
That pedophile is less dangerous to the community than the thousands of illegal alien criminals the Obama administration released.
I have to agree. There was no accusation that he himself had actually abused any children. I fully realize that people who view and download this stuff create a market for it, so it is appropriate to impose fairly harsh penalties. Still, I find sending someone to jail for just looking at some porn to be pretty harsh. Tough call. Letting a career criminal burglar walk however is inexcusable. You can understand why the UK is such a hellhole of crime. Guns and self defense are banned, but career criminals are treated with kid gloves.
Don't they have a nut house? If prison is not necessary for him they should have a psych ward with treatment.