Once sentenced, jailed and released - is your debt to society over?

[SimonMac]

He was sentenced to five years and so his sentence is not yet spent.

He is on license in the community.

So no, his debt to society is not yet over.

Any custodial sentence of more than 4 years is never spent.

Looking at things logically footballers who have unspent convictions can still play football (Lee Hughes, Luke McCormack off the top off my head) so this is a case of the crime rather than the sentence being the issue, I am all for people being given the chance to rehabilitate so no problem there and if this was any other profession this would not be a question, as he is a sex offender I assume he can't work with young people so if the football club has community links, youth teams etc this could disqualify him from playing again. People mention the "role model" aspect of his profession, but that is out side of his control, he didn't ask to be one.

Digger deeper into the story the issue is that he has not shown remorse or apologised to his victim, but as he is still protesting his innocence and going to try and get the conviction reviewed he can't do either for fear of damaging his chance of doing this, its another case of Sheffield United being damned if they do and damned if they don't.

[vetran]

1. Judges don't hold some kind of overruling power - I don't believe there's anything a judge could have done to prevent him pursuing his career.
2. For me, at least, it has nothing to do with envy. I don't even "do" football - but I do find it abhorrent that he can just come out and pick up as though nothing has happened. You're right, I wouldn't care if it was a bin man, but he's not a bin man and I do care. It's well known that kids look up to football players and I don't think it's a particularly great message to send out.

Do I think the law should be changed? No. Do I think the club(s) should respect his victim and **** him off? Yes, very much so.

Do you reckon Moseley, or Rolf Harris are going to leave prison and crack on as before?

My understanding is that if they have concerns about the defendants risk of reoffending in employment they can within rules stop them returning. e.g. he had raped someone at or work or the rules of being on the register prevent you doing similar jobs.

I suspect Harris will continue to be famous and make money out of it.

I'm sure the Philpotts & Paul Moseley will go back on the dole.

[d000hg]

It's ridiculous to suggest he should never be allowed to play again, anymore than to suggest a convicted rapist plumber can never plumb again.

If his current club wants to fire him, fair enough but if they choose to keep him that's their choice.

However it seems better for all if he transfers to a club in another country, it's just too awkward otherwise.

[VectraMan]

If you get a £60 speeding fine, is it forgotten once you've paid the fine? Or are you morally expected to keep paying something every year for the rest of your life?

And the thing about him playing football being an insult to the victim is clearly a load of old hysterical cobblers.

[BrilloPad]

And the thing about him playing football being an insult to the victim is clearly a load of old hysterical cobblers.

That was my first thought.

But then I realized I hate footballers - overpaid nancy boys who think the rules of society do not apply to them. Could we apply hysterical cobblers just to footballers only?

[vetran]

If you get a £60 speeding fine, is it forgotten once you've paid the fine? Or are you morally expected to keep paying something every year for the rest of your life?

And the thing about him playing football being an insult to the victim is clearly a load of old hysterical cobblers.

No its not forgotten, they give you points for a period, your insurance goes up so you pay more each year and it will be mentioned if you have any other motoring offences later. It also acts as a deterrent as when you get enough points you lose your licence.

The comparison is poor because despite the speed kills squad's efforts its not quite as abhorrent as raping a girl.

[d000hg]

Saying it's offensive to the victim I can at least understand, in the sense that she could forever be seeing his face on TV and in the papers (I don't know if she's a football fan).

Saying it's an insult to all rape victims is just silly IMO.

[SueEllen]

If you get a £60 speeding fine, is it forgotten once you've paid the fine? Or are you morally expected to keep paying something every year for the rest of your life?

If you get a £60 speeding fine your insurance is affected for 3-5 years.

And the thing about him playing football being an insult to the victim is clearly a load of old hysterical cobblers.

The issue here is that he has showed no remorse and thinks he has done nothing wrong.

Other young men have done worse and killed someone the difference is they have showed remorse.

[VectraMan]

If you get a £60 speeding fine your insurance is affected for 3-5 years.

Okay, so obviously the point of the analogy was the fine, not that it was a speeding offence which carries extra penalties. What about if it was just a fine for something, say paying your tax bill late?

The issue here is that he has showed no remorse and thinks he has done nothing wrong.

Other young men have done worse and killed someone the difference is they have showed remorse.

Then the issue here is that he should still be in prison, not that he should be subjected to some extra punishment after being released. It's up to the justice system to punish people, and when the justice system says the punishment is over that person is free to do whatever they like. It shouldn't be up to the public to enforce some kind of extra punishment. If you feel the original punishment was insufficient, then that's a different issue, and not what was being asked in this thread.

[vetran]

If you get a £60 speeding fine your insurance is affected for 3-5 years.


The issue here is that he has showed no remorse and thinks he has done nothing wrong.

Other young men have done worse and killed someone the difference is they have showed remorse.

what will you say if he wins his appeal?