21 year-old Sean Hogg was 17 years old when he committed the crime.
Warning: Content contains references to sexual offending
Hogg, of Hamilton South Larnarkshire, was sobbing in the dock while before the court for sentencing on 3 April. After ‘pouncing’ on the girl while she walked in Dalkeith Country Park in Midlothian on various occasions between March and June 2018, Hogg raped her and was eventually convicted by a jury of the crime following a trial in the Glasgow High Court.
Judge Lord Lake sentenced Hogg to 270 hours of unpaid and ordered him to be supervised for three years on the sex offenders register.
‘Rape is one of the most serious crimes and that is why it is tried at the High Court. Looking at the circumstances – her age and vulnerabilities are aggravating factors. For the level of seriousness, I have to consider your liability and have regard to your age as a factor. This offence, if committed by an adult over 25 you attract a sentence of four or five years.
‘I don’t consider that appropriate and don’t intend to send you to prison. You are a first offender with no previous history of prison – you are 21 and were 17 at the time. Prison does not lead me to believe this will contribute to your rehabilitation.’
The ruling caused outrage in some quarters, attracting the attention of J. K. Rowling, and Sandy Brindley, of Rape Crisis Scotland, said the sentence was ‘worryingly lenient’.
Hoggs lawyer told the court an appeal against conviction would be filed.
Progressive Scotland 2023, where a man gets no jail time for raping a 13-year-old girl in a park. Young Scottish men are effectively being told ‘first time’s free.’ https://t.co/iHeV1xZYyy
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) April 4, 2023
difficult decision. What would become a boy in prison at that age and in contact with even worse offenders.
The outcome of the punishment might be then worst for society.
Personnaly, i think it is wise of the juge, but the juge should also have punished the boy by condemning him to pay a financial compensation to the girl.
To acknowlege the suffering of the girl.
And to show that bad actions have financial repercussions
1. Arrest again;
2. Take to hospital;
3. Remove testicles;
4. Probation for 10 years;
5. Pay monetary Comp to the victim;
6. Issue an indefinite Restraining Order prohibiting contact with his victim!
NO injections of testosterone!