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| Barrister criticised for calling child abuse victim 'predatory' | Barrister criticised for calling child abuse victim 'predatory' |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The Crown Prosecution Service has criticised one of its barristers for describing a 13-year-old sex abuse victim in court as "predatory". | |
| Robert Colover QC also called the girl "sexually experienced". The CPS said his language had been "inappropriate". | Robert Colover QC also called the girl "sexually experienced". The CPS said his language had been "inappropriate". |
| Neil Wilson, 41, admitted abusing the girl at his home in Romford, London, and was given a suspended jail term. | Neil Wilson, 41, admitted abusing the girl at his home in Romford, London, and was given a suspended jail term. |
| The Attorney General's Office said the sentence had been drawn to its attention as "possibly unduly lenient". | The Attorney General's Office said the sentence had been drawn to its attention as "possibly unduly lenient". |
| Details of the case come as the head of the judiciary in England and Wales says a select pool of judges with specialist training will be created to handle complex child abuse cases, amid concerns at the way some child witnesses are treated in court by lawyers. | |
| The police were alerted to the actions of Wilson, who now lives in York, after his victim had told a friend. Images of child sex abuse were also found on Wilson's computer. | The police were alerted to the actions of Wilson, who now lives in York, after his victim had told a friend. Images of child sex abuse were also found on Wilson's computer. |
| Wilson later admitted two counts of making extreme pornographic images and one count of sexual activity with a child. | Wilson later admitted two counts of making extreme pornographic images and one count of sexual activity with a child. |
| Mr Colover, who was representing the CPS at Wilson's sentencing hearing at London's Snaresbrook Crown Court on Monday, said: "The girl is predatory in all her actions and she is sexually experienced." | Mr Colover, who was representing the CPS at Wilson's sentencing hearing at London's Snaresbrook Crown Court on Monday, said: "The girl is predatory in all her actions and she is sexually experienced." |
| The judge, Nigel Peters, said that when deciding Wilson's punishment, he had taken into account the prosecution's comments that the girl looked and behaved older than she was. Wilson's eight-month jail term was suspended for two years. | The judge, Nigel Peters, said that when deciding Wilson's punishment, he had taken into account the prosecution's comments that the girl looked and behaved older than she was. Wilson's eight-month jail term was suspended for two years. |
| Speaking about Mr Colover's remarks, a CPS spokesman said: "The language used by prosecution counsel was inappropriate. | Speaking about Mr Colover's remarks, a CPS spokesman said: "The language used by prosecution counsel was inappropriate. |
| "The transgressor in this case was the defendant and he bears responsibility for his criminal acts." | "The transgressor in this case was the defendant and he bears responsibility for his criminal acts." |
| Online petition | Online petition |
| In a statement, the Attorney General's Office said: "The case has been drawn to the attention of this office as a possibly unduly lenient sentence. | In a statement, the Attorney General's Office said: "The case has been drawn to the attention of this office as a possibly unduly lenient sentence. |
| "This means it'll be considered by a law officer (the Attorney or Solicitor General) who will decide whether it should be referred to the Court of Appeal under the unduly lenient sentence scheme." | "This means it'll be considered by a law officer (the Attorney or Solicitor General) who will decide whether it should be referred to the Court of Appeal under the unduly lenient sentence scheme." |
| It said a decision would be announced once files relating to the case had been considered. | It said a decision would be announced once files relating to the case had been considered. |
| Alison Worsley, of children's charity Barnardo's, said: "It is plain wrong to imply in any way that the experiences of sexually exploited children are something they bring on themselves. | Alison Worsley, of children's charity Barnardo's, said: "It is plain wrong to imply in any way that the experiences of sexually exploited children are something they bring on themselves. |
| "It is difficult to imagine the torment experienced by the vulnerable victims of crimes such as these." | "It is difficult to imagine the torment experienced by the vulnerable victims of crimes such as these." |
| She added: "It takes immense bravery for these young people to relive their ordeal in a court of law and we must not forget that it is the abuser who is guilty and not the victim." | She added: "It takes immense bravery for these young people to relive their ordeal in a court of law and we must not forget that it is the abuser who is guilty and not the victim." |
| More than 4,000 people have signed an online petition calling for the CPS to investigate the language used by Mr Colover. | More than 4,000 people have signed an online petition calling for the CPS to investigate the language used by Mr Colover. |
| The petition, which was started by a woman named Jo who described herself as a "survivor of childhood sexual abuse", stated: "It's unacceptable that the crown prosecutor - the person who this young girl was relying on to help get her justice - used this kind of language in court. | The petition, which was started by a woman named Jo who described herself as a "survivor of childhood sexual abuse", stated: "It's unacceptable that the crown prosecutor - the person who this young girl was relying on to help get her justice - used this kind of language in court. |
| "It's a sad fact that this kind of attitude is commonplace within society and the legal establishment. We need to make a stand and send a clear message: It's never the child's fault." | "It's a sad fact that this kind of attitude is commonplace within society and the legal establishment. We need to make a stand and send a clear message: It's never the child's fault." |