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Burglary takes courage

Jurgen the German

Jurgen the German

Tommy Harmer
Watchdog to investigate judge's 'burglary takes courage' remarks

The judge who described a drug-addicted serial thief as "courageous" is to be investigated by the judicial watchdog.

Judge Peter Bowers reportedly made the remark while sentencing 26-year-old Richard Rochford for burglary.

The Teesside Crown Court judge also said he thought that prison did criminals "little good".

His remarks sparked criticism, and Prime Minister David Cameron said burglars were "cowards" whose "hateful crime" violated victims.

Rochford, of Westbourne Grove, Redcar, admitted two burglaries and asked for one more burglary and one attempted burglary to be taken into account.

He was given a two-year supervision order with drug rehabilitation and 200 hours' unpaid work, with a one-year driving ban.

'Not bravery'

The judge reportedly told the offender on Tuesday: "It takes a huge amount of courage, as far as I can see, for somebody to burgle somebody's house. I wouldn't have the nerve."

A spokesperson for the Office for Judicial Complaints said it had "received a number of complaints in relation to comments that His Honour Judge Bowers made in relation to a case in Teesside Crown Court on 4th September 2012".

"Those complaints will be considered under the Judicial Discipline Regulations in the usual way. It would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage," the spokesperson said.

Speaking to ITV's Daybreak programme, Mr Cameron said: "I haven't seen the specific case.

"Judges sometimes say things that, you have to read the full context and the rest of it.

"But I'm very clear; burglary is not bravery, burglary is cowardice, burglary is a hateful crime.

"People sometimes say it is not a violent crime, but actually, if you've been burgled, you do feel it was violent, breaking into your home.

"That's why this government is actually changing the law to toughen the rules on self-defence towards burglars."

'Too lenient'

One of Rochford's victims, Mark Clayton, of Lingdale, North Yorkshire, condemned Judge Bowers' comments.

He said: "How can a man who is burgling houses be told it takes courage and be let off? He hasn't learnt anything from his mistakes.

"What is courage? I did 22 years with Her Majesty's forces. I've done a lot of things that took immense courage.

"The judge has been too lenient towards this guy's mental state. It's hardly fair.

"I don't know anything about the prison service, but I'm sure it's all about rehabilitating people. That's why it's there."

Mr Clayton said Rochford had broken into his house in the early hours, ransacked it and taken laptops, televisions and items of sentimental value.

He added: "I thought Rochford would get some sentence. He has to learn from what he's done. He can't just be let off for the crimes he's committed."

Javed Khan, chief executive of the national charity Victim Support, said burglars should be brought to justice because of the impact of their actions on victims.

"Burglary can be a traumatic experience for victims and leave long lasting scars", he said.

"It is therefore disappointing to see it being taken lightly by anyone - not least someone whose role it is to make sure offenders are brought to justice."

A Ministry of Justice Spokeswoman said: "Sentencing is purely a matter for the courts, as only they have the full facts of a case before them."


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-19503922

Surely only a matter of time before this idiot loses his job
 
Our villa got burgled at Center Parcs one year. My football team also had all of our stuff nicked (phones, watches, one guy had £200 in his bag and was on his way to pay his mate for a holiday after the game) whilst we played the first half. We got back to the changing room at half time to find our stuff gone! It's a horrible feeling when it sinks in that your belongings have been stolen!!
 
Never happened to me, but know people who have been burgled. Must feel absolutely terrible. Wouldn't we all fudging love to catch the burglar in our house trying to steal our brick..
 
Mumorn said:
Never happened to me, but know people who have been burgled. Must feel absolutely terrible. Wouldn't we all fudging love to catch the burglar in our house trying to steal our brick..
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Beat him up then get done for assault no doubt.
 
superspurs said:
Beat him up then get done for assault no doubt.
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WE the people actually have the power to acquit people who fight back against burglars. If I was on a jury and a case like this came up and the person who was robbed fought back, I would acquit them.

Let's hope the criminal has the "courage" to burgle the judge's home, see how courageous the judge finds him then.

Anything other than this judge losing his job is a disgrace.
 
tommysvr said:
Is it just me, or do judges often seem completely out of touch with society?
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Not just you.

But this one is not being logical, a minimum you expect of a judge.

I can see something in the argument that there is something brave in risking a burglary. But only if sober. If under the influence of drugs then the bravery is somewhat diminished.

I can see some benefit of considering a drug addiction in determining the sentence. But the logic in a reduced sentence is that person is not of sound mind, i.e. under the influence of drugs and needs help.

It can't be both.
 
His comments obviously seem ridiculous the way they are presented here at least. My guess would be that this is presented at least somewhat out of context as it seems like such a ridiculous thing to say.

In my opinion the more interesting question is the sentencing. It's a pretty natural instinct to want (strict) punishment dished out towards someone that has broken into your house. Luckily I've never experienced that, although I have had someone break into my car and steal some random stuff from me. Not a great feeling to say the least.

However, on a slightly larger societal scale the question of rehabilitation and minimizing the chances of this happening again should be the most important factors. I'm not convinced at all that a (strict) prison sentence is the best way to accommodate rehabilitation. Certainly not in all cases.

Of course handing out sentences like the one mentioned in the article won't satisfy the victim's wish for retribution, but if it makes rehabilitation more likely and repeat offenses less likely then I think it's a price worth paying for society.
 
Courage my arse. You've got to be a low life QUNT,plain and simple.

I got burgled one night whilst I was out,about 11pm-ish. My Missus at the time was in bed! Still makes me shudder what may have happened to her had she not woke up and scared them off. The pikey fudgers took a laptop & a pair of golf shoes (that were sat on top of my golf bag containing about a grands worth of clubs). I hope the skag that they bought with the proceeds killed them. Absolute scum,down there with rapists IMO.
 
Thing that does my nut is how old bill are quite happy to use a case
of burglary as a statistic but when it actually comes to a working class person being burgled of a few hundread quids worth of gear they couldn't give a fudge. Few cars broken into where I live last few months everyman and his dog knows who it is yet when landlord of my local rings the old bill and tells them such and such has been in the local trying to sell satnavs etc they don't want to know
 
My mum's family had their house burgled when she was 19. The worst thing about it was, her Dad had died about 18 months previously, so the burglar (who the family knew) had the knowledge that there wasn't a man in the house, just my nan, my mum, my two aunts and uncles whose ages ranged from 7 to 15. That is the definition of a coward! Took my auntie years to get over it! Imagine how scary it is for a kid.

You feel violated when you get burgled. And the most infuriating aspect of it is the knowledge that YOU will be the one who gets in trouble if you fight back or try to stop them from stealing.

The way I see it, someone breaks into my home, they should lose all their rights. If a person drinks more than the limit, goes out in their car and runs someone over, the person driving is in the wrong as they should not be on the road.

I can't believe people are defending this judge.
 
Jurgen the German said:
My mum's family had their house burgled when she was 19. The worst thing about it was, her Dad had died about 18 months previously, so the burglar (who the family knew) had the knowledge that there wasn't a man in the house, just my nan, my mum, my two aunts and uncles whose ages ranged from 7 to 15. That is the definition of a coward! Took my auntie years to get over it! Imagine how scary it is for a kid.

You feel violated when you get burgled. And the most infuriating aspect of it is the knowledge that YOU will be the one who gets in trouble if you fight back or try to stop them from stealing.

The way I see it, someone breaks into my home, they should lose all their rights. If a person drinks more than the limit, goes out in their car and runs someone over, the person driving is in the wrong as they should not be on the road.

I can't believe people are defending this judge.
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Spot on. Never happen though unfortunately
 
Jurgen the German said:
WE the people actually have the power to acquit people who fight back against burglars. If I was on a jury and a case like this came up and the person who was robbed fought back, I would acquit them.

Let's hope the criminal has the "courage" to burgle the judge's home, see how courageous the judge finds him then.

Anything other than this judge losing his job is a disgrace.
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I might be wrong but I don't think judges can be sacked.
 
WV1YID80 said:
Spot on. Never happen though unfortunately
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This

It should happen, you'd think twice about breaking in if you knew there was the chance of getting shot or beaten with a baseball bat or something. Rathr than just a slapped wrist and a complement from a Judge.
 
SpursLodge said:
This

It should happen, you'd think twice about breaking in if you knew there was the chance of getting shot or beaten with a baseball bat or something. Rathr than just a slapped wrist and a complement from a Judge.
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It might make them think twice and then go in better armed. I don't think that would make householders safer.
 
SpursLodge said:
This

It should happen, you'd think twice about breaking in if you knew there was the chance of getting shot or beaten with a baseball bat or something. Rathr than just a slapped wrist and a complement from a Judge.
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If you could use any force you deemed necessary against a burgler and you knew you would get away with it you would have people settling scores and taking them to their house,ringing the old bill & saying I've just been burgled & that you have shot/stabbed/battered the fudger. As i say,unfortunately,It'd never work.
 
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