Man spared jail after raping girl

[devblt 0]

A 20-year-old man who raped a girl aged 10 has been spared jail in what a judge said was a "wholly exceptional" case.

Liam Edgecombe, from Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, was given a conditional discharge by the judge, saying he could see why he thought the girl was 16.

The court heard Edgecombe, who admitted rape, was "visibly traumatised" when he was told the girl's real age.

Mr Justice Roderick Evans, at Swansea Crown Court, said the girl "was looking for a man and got what she wanted".

The girl was in the care of a local authority when she was taken to Haverfordwest on 24 November, 2006.

Prosecuting, Chris Clee said the girl pretended to go to the toilet and took her chance to "disappear".

His belief that she was over 16 was a reasonable one

Janet Gedrych, defending

The youngster met Edgecombe in the town centre the same night and was invited back to his flat.

Mr Clee said Edgecombe, a painter, raised the subject of the girl's age but she asked him: "Does it matter?" and the pair had intercourse twice.

The next day police spotted the girl in the centre of the town and she was returned to care workers.

She told them what had happened but refused to co-operate with the police inquiry.

However, Edgecombe was traced and admitted what had happened.

His barrister, Janet Gedrych, said Edgecombe was "visibly traumatised" on being told the girl was only 10.

Sexual experience

He became so upset police granted him bail on condition he left his flat and returned to live at home with his mother.

"This is an exceptional case," said Miss Gedrych.

"He met her outside a pub. His belief that she was over 16 was a reasonable one.

"It was not her first sexual experience," she said, adding Edgecombe was "acutely embarrassed and ashamed".

Mr Clee said there was no doubt the girl consented to sex but because of her age the offence amounted to rape.

The judge said: "She was a girl of 10 and you are a man of 20. Those bald facts do not properly represent the true facts of this case.

"The prosecution accepts that you believed she was 16 and that that belief was reasonable."

Describing the case as "wholly exceptional," Mr Justice Evans said he had to balance the need to protect young girls and the need to punish Edgecombe.

Edgecombe was conditionally discharged for 18 months and ordered to register with the police as a sex offender.

source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/s...est/6527625.stm

Edited April 5, 2007 by devblt

[Alex+R 0]

I feel bad for the guy, from what I read. Now he has to be a sex offender forever.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Back in my home town that sort of thing wasn't untypical - though age 10 is pretty extreme. I can't imagine a "mature-looking" 10 year old. Nor would I want to... Yuk.

[Heracles 417]

Got to love the sympathetic British courts. My ### he did not know. Who would mistaken a 10 year old for a 16 year old. That is the biggest BS I have ever heard.

Nonetheless, Where is this girls parents? Why was she out at a pub?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Got to love the sympathetic British courts. My ### he did not know. Who would mistaken a 10 year old for a 16 year old. That is the biggest BS I have ever heard.

Nonetheless, Where is this girls parents? Why was she out at a pub?

Its not untypical - I've been to nightclubs where 14 year olds not only are let in by the door security but who buy drinks and offer themselves to men. Its also why I never picked anyone up from those places. That said, 10 is pretty extreme - but I've known friends of mine (while in their early 20's) who had dated 16 year olds at one time or another. Getting let off for underage sex (if you end up in court) is pretty rare though...

[Heracles 417]

Its not untypical - I've been to nightclubs where 14 year olds not only are let in by the door security but who buy drinks and offer themselves to men. Its also why I never picked anyone up from those places. That said, 10 is pretty extreme - but I've known friends of mine (while in their early 20's) who had dated 16 year olds at one time or another. Getting let off for underage sex (if you end up in court) is pretty rare though...

Another great product of an anything goes society. I'll am sure this little girl is going to make great use of the British welfare system over the next 50 years, starting off with a few kids to various partners. The cycle begins again.

I wonder if in 200 years time people will look back at this era and wonder what the hell where people thinking and study how primitive we where. Pretty much like the dark ages..

Edited April 5, 2007 by Infidel

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Its hardly "anything goes", more just general apathy and unwillingness of the local authorities to do anything about it.

The problems themselves are generational - dysfunctional single parent families which breed more dysfunctional single parent families. Drink laws that aren't enforced to stop underage drinkers from getting into pubs and clubs without being ID'd (which is a law enforcement issue - outside of major cities there really aren't too many cops on the streets), and the sexualisation of children in the media. There isn't one single cause that can be pointed to..

[Heracles 417]

There isn't one single cause that can be pointed to..

I guess we should do nothing then and watch the demise of society.

After all we have more important things to worry about like pets being poisoned.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

There isn't one single cause that can be pointed to..

I guess we should do nothing then and watch the demise of society.

After all we have more important things to worry about like pets being poisoned.

Can I ask where the logic comes from that you use to jump to your conclusions?

I didn't say "we should do nothing" - just that there's no one cause, so unfortunately there are no simple solutions. Do you consider that if it were that easy, we wouldn't have these problems in the first place?

[Peikko 1,575]

Another great product of an anything goes society. I'll am sure this little girl is going to make great use of the British welfare system over the next 50 years, starting off with a few kids to various partners. The cycle begins again.

I wonder if in 200 years time people will look back at this era and wonder what the hell where people thinking and study how primitive we where. Pretty much like the dark ages..

There's a throw away comment if ever saw one.

[GaryC 7]

Ok, he thought she was 16. That is still reprehensable. A 20 year old shouldn't have anything to do with a "16" year old anyway. The guy at minimum is a leacher.

[JohnK 0]

10 years old is hard to believe, but I've seen it. One of my friends has 2 young daughters about that age and you'd never know it by their looks or the way they act. It doesn't help that his ex-wife is a skank who uses sex to get things from men and is teaching her daughters to do the same. With that and the garbage the little girls see on MTV and other channels it's hard to blame them for their behavior.... it's all they know.

[Mags 112]

Ok, he thought she was 16. That is still reprehensable. A 20 year old shouldn't have anything to do with a "16" year old anyway. The guy at minimum is a leacher.

At what point does an age gap cease to become reprehensible? There are many 16 year old girls going out with older men, it happens ALOT. If she was 20 and he 24 no one would say a thing.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

There are 13-14 year olds who could easily pass for 18 when they get dressed up. It's quite disturbing really.

[GaryC 7]

Ok, he thought she was 16. That is still reprehensable. A 20 year old shouldn't have anything to do with a "16" year old anyway. The guy at minimum is a leacher.

At what point does an age gap cease to become reprehensible? There are many 16 year old girls going out with older men, it happens ALOT. If she was 20 and he 24 no one would say a thing.

Call me old fashoned but to me a 16 year old is still a child regardless of how "developed" she looks. A 20 year old male is a man in my book. It may not be illegal in the UK but it is still wrong IMO.

Besides, when your riding the edge of legal like that he should have found out how old she was. This is graphic proof that you can't tell by looking.