Thread by @RussellFindlay1

A thread 🧵

There's understandable anger across the UK at a child-rapist being spared prison by a Scottish court.

The 21-year-old will do community service which a top lawyer calls 'extraordinary' and a rape charity says is 'inexplicable'👇

1/7
bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotla…

However, this sentence was not a system glitch nor is it 'inexplicable'. It is entirely by design.

In January 2022, the Scottish Sentencing Council unveiled new guidelines not to jail under 25s because their brains are 'not fully mature' 👇

2/7
bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotla…

That's exactly what has happened since.

There was this 'vicious and cowardly' 17-year-old gang leader's attack on a Lanarkshire fire officer who suffered permanent impairment and disfigurement.

No prison sentence. 270 hours community service.👇

3/7
dailyrecord.co.uk/in-your-area/l…

There's the 21-year-old cocaine dealer in Fife who was spared jail after being caught by police for a second time.

The sheriff said that he would not jail him because of the guidelines. 160 hours community service.👇

4/7
dunfermlinepress.com/news/23174416.…

Then there's the 24-year-old Bank of Scotland worker in Ayrshire who abused his position of trust to steal almost £10,000 from elderly customers.

No jail. 200 hours community service 👇

5/7
ayradvertiser.com/news/23353509.…

And the 22-year-old hit-and-run driver who killed a 15-year-old boy in Lanarkshire. The boy's family say their lives are 'ruined'.

Despite speeding and carless driving convictions, the driver was spared jail. 300 hours community service 👇

6/7
bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotla…

There have been many more such horrific cases - and more to come.

The SNP love preaching about 'smart justice' but there's nothing smart about betraying child rape victims and other young people who are often victims of youth crime.

It is THEY who deserve protection.

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