Chamber and committees

Petitioner submission of 9 September 2021

PE1881/B: Longer sentences for paedophiles and sexual predators

Having teamed up with another victim of a similar crime and through our campaigning for longer sentences it is becoming more and more the case that these types of offenders are being released before they have even served half of their jail sentence and their victims are being left with no justice whatsoever. If the jail terms were at least a minimum of 4 years and above, then the victims would have some peace of mind that they would not automatically be released at the half way point or even earlier.

Speaking to many victims their stories are all very similar. They are left feeling cheated by the justice system and, at times, as if they were the ones on trial. They suffer from PTSD, depression, suicidal thoughts and much more on a daily basis. For them, these feelings will never go away and we all have life sentences. So to find out that our abusers can walk away after 6 months is absolutely no justice or closure for them. The abusers get released and go about their normal lives many without any remorse at all. We would love to be able to have normal lives but these people took that chance away from us. We didn't get a choice in the matter.

The short term sentences are no deterrent for them as they see it almost like a slap on the hand. They know if they get caught they will be free within months. We need longer sentences so that they know they will be jailed and punished for a number of years. If an offender is released early or given a short term sentence, I believe that they are very likely to reoffend as the chances of rehabilitation within such a short time is minimal.

In my case I have been suffering for 33 years and will continue to do so until the day I die. Yet my abuser was sentenced to 20 months and will walk free automatically after 10 months, then he will carry on with what life he has left. He is up for parole this year and if released this would be mean he hasn't even served any time for what he did to myself and the other victims. It is totally unacceptable.