Leicester Teenager admits burgling 278 homes and stealing 60 cars

[Guest Col city fan]

Have you met him?

Or are you just judging him based on his criminal record.

The police said that the person who did over my parents house was most likely part of a gang, it is very possible that he doesn't have any parents or left home early, got taken in by a gang became reliant on them, they looked after him, he burgled for them.

Maybe giving him an education, giving him a chance at an honest life, and a chance he never had, seeing as he started doing this years ago he probably didn't complete his education.

I don't know any of this for sure but I'm not going to start bellyaching about he's a wrong un, lock him up and throw away the key. You are just being a reactionary, I have a lot more faith in human beings in our ability to learn to change and to grow.

My mum and dad went away to Malta a few years ago. Basically, my dad (60) had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and they had gone on their 'final holiday' together.

Whilst away, some kid(s) burgled their home and stole just about everything. I found it nie on emptied, sorted things out with the police and didn't let mum and dad know until they got home

(I didn't want to ruin their holiday).

The cops strongly suspected who the lads were (there had been a spate of similar burglaries in the area) but they had never caught them at the scene nor in possession.

My oldies came home and I won't forget the look on their faces when I had to tell them. Dad died approx three months later.

So, I'm sorry if I'm 'bellyaching' as you suggest, but such a crime is very close to home, as it were. Suffice it to say he (they) were not caught as far as i knew.

I wouldn't mind in the slightest if the perpetrator(s) went to Hell in a handcart. I felt that at the time and still feel it now.

To get back to the OP... For you to suggest that kid(s) who had committed this level of crime on so many occassions can somehow be 'rehabilitated' is star gazing IMO. It will be deeply set in their psyche and so behaviourally embedded that it would most probably take years and an awful lot of resources to instill any meaningful change. Perhaps best to get them out of wider society before they can do further damage? The 'greater good' may well outright their human rights in this case I would suspect?

It's perhaps sad that you seem so accepting mate.. Especially as it happened to your own?

Just my opinion....

[Captain...]

My mum and dad went away to Malta a few years ago. Basically, my dad (60) had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and they had gone on their 'final holiday' together.

Whilst away, some kid(s) burgled their home and stole just about everything. I found it nie on emptied, sorted things out with the police and didn't let mum and dad know until they got home

(I didn't want to ruin their holiday).

The cops strongly suspected who the lads were (there had been a spate of similar burglaries in the area) but they had never caught them at the scene nor in possession.

My oldies came home and I won't forget the look on their faces when I had to tell them. Dad died approx three months later.

So, I'm sorry if I'm 'bellyaching' as you suggest, but such a crime is very close to home, as it were. Suffice it to say he (they) were not caught as far as i knew.

I wouldn't mind in the slightest if the perpetrator(s) went to Hell in a handcart. I felt that at the time and still feel it now.

To get back to the OP... For you to suggest that kid(s) who had committed this level of crime on so many occassions can somehow be 'rehabilitated' is star gazing IMO. It will be deeply set in their psyche and so behaviourally embedded that it would most probably take years and an awful lot of resources to instill any meaningful change. Perhaps best to get them out of wider society before they can do further damage? The 'greater good' may well outright their human rights in this case I would suspect?

It's perhaps sad that you seem so accepting mate.. Especially as it happened to your own?

Just my opinion....

Why should the fact it happened to my parents, to me, to my friends make any difference to believing that a 19 year old can't be rehabilitated.

It would make me a hypocrite to have liberal views and then change them just because it happened to me.

I am not saying he definitely can be rehabilitated, I have never met him, nor know much about this case, but I do know that all kinds of people from all types of backgrounds and all types of ages who have committed all kinds of crimes with varying degrees of severity and frequency have been successfully rehabilitated and are now functioning members of society.

I see no reason why this lad would be an exception, and unless you can give me one I will continue to believe that.

[Guest Col city fan]

Why should the fact it happened to my parents, to me, to my friends make any difference to believing that a 19 year old can't be rehabilitated.

It would make me a hypocrite to have liberal views and then change them just because it happened to me.

I am not saying he definitely can be rehabilitated, I have never met him, nor know much about this case, but I do know that all kinds of people from all types of backgrounds and all types of ages who have committed all kinds of crimes with varying degrees of severity and frequency have been successfully rehabilitated and are now functioning members of society.

I see no reason why this lad would be an exception, and unless you can give me one I will continue to believe that.

In this case your views are very liberal.

Mine aren't in this case.

Don't be saddened because yours are and mine aren't.

Get my point?

[Webbo]

Lets not pretend that there are no rehabilitation schemes in this country. Young offenders are given second chances galore, it doesn't always succeed.

[theessexfox]

Come off it, that kind of figure shows he's almost addicted to it for fvck sake.

I'd be amazed if he ever changed.

The little cvnt deserves his life destroying, he's been nothing but a negative impact on hundreds.

This, its way beyond a thirst for crime, it's an addiction, and that's hard to cure.

[Guest Col city fan]

Come off it, that kind of figure shows he's almost addicted to it for fvck sake.

I'd be amazed if he ever changed.

The little cvnt deserves his life destroying, he's been nothing but a negative impact on hundreds.

[marty78]

It shouldn't be forgotten that this lad was just twelve years old when this all started and he perhaps deserves an opportunity to prove he can reform his character. He is still little more than a boy now.

[Thracian]

How many lives has he affected already?

And how many lives could he go on to 'destroy'?

Makes you wonder doesn't it?

'Solving things' must start with better parenting and at a much earlier age.

Weighing everything up, it's far more likely this kid will go on and on and on reoffending, than be rehabilitated. Or so the figures would suggest.

I've had a stack of experience of the problems faced by such people, particularly over the last two years, and if you keep making excuses for them they'll never change. It's bad enough that they all make excuses for themselves.

[21st Century Fox]

What would Jesus say

Had he existed.

[Dan]

Why should the fact it happened to my parents, to me, to my friends make any difference to believing that a 19 year old can't be rehabilitated.

It would make me a hypocrite to have liberal views and then change them just because it happened to me.

I am not saying he definitely can be rehabilitated, I have never met him, nor know much about this case, but I do know that all kinds of people from all types of backgrounds and all types of ages who have committed all kinds of crimes with varying degrees of severity and frequency have been successfully rehabilitated and are now functioning members of society.

I see no reason why this lad would be an exception, and unless you can give me one I will continue to believe that.

Those people shouldn't have been given that chance.

If people are stopped from being given second chances (it's not like you do it by accident either) you'll soon see a lot of people stop risking it. Just look at the knock-on effects, if this lad is helped in future then where is the deterrent to prevent it happening time and time again?

He's done it over 200 times, the thought of scum like that getting a second chance is well and truly beyond me.

[Rincewind]

One way to stop people re-offending is for them not associating with the same people or going back to the same area before they went inside. Also not being able to get accomondation or a job does little to encourage them to stay on the straight and barrow. Four reasons for re-offending

1 Seeing 'mates' who are also involved with crimminal activity.that they knew before going to prison.

2 Being refused a place to live because of their record

3 Being refused a job because of their past record

4 No trade or poor education skills

But why should we care about them they are criminals after all and don't deserve any of the things law abiding people have.

[Guest MattP]

Should send him to Welby Farm on release

[Captain...]

Those people shouldn't have been given that chance.

If people are stopped from being given second chances (it's not like you do it by accident either) you'll soon see a lot of people stop risking it. Just look at the knock-on effects, if this lad is helped in future then where is the deterrent to prevent it happening time and time again?

He's done it over 200 times, the thought of scum like that getting a second chance is well and truly beyond me.

Well I can only assume you have never made a mistake in your life and have never been given a second chance by anyone.

I hope when you do make a mistake you get a second chance, and perhaps you will realise that everyone deserves at least one.

[Guest MattP]

Well I can only assume you have never made a mistake in your life and have never been given a second chance by anyone.

I hope when you do make a mistake you get a second chance, and perhaps you will realise that everyone deserves at least one.

A mistake?

Or 338 mistakes?

(and let's be honest god knows how many more the autual figure is)

[Webbo]

Well I can only assume you have never made a mistake in your life and have never been given a second chance by anyone.

I hope when you do make a mistake you get a second chance, and perhaps you will realise that everyone deserves at least one.

He's made over 300 mistakes.

[Rincewind]

What would Jesus say

Had he existed.

He would say to one of his gang 'Go to the village yonder and there you will see a mule tied up outside Mr Cohen's hut, bring it to me.'

[Guest Col city fan]

Well I can only assume you have never made a mistake in your life and have never been given a second chance by anyone.

I hope when you do make a mistake you get a second chance, and perhaps you will realise that everyone deserves at least one.

You really are talking out your arris..

A 'second chance'!! Times that by God knows how many!

[marty78]

So what is the alternative to giving him a another chance through attempted rehabilitation then if that offends people so much? Put him death maybe or keep him locked up for the remainder of his life at the taxpayers expense? Can't really think of many other options but I'm all ears.

Why did a twelve year old boy begin this life of crime in the first place? Could it be that perhaps he has been let down by the failure of people who should be nurturing, educating and of course disciplining him or was he just a bad egg by design? If someone had dealt with him a few years ago when his behaviour first deteriorated maybe a lot of the crimes he has been convicted of would never have been committed.

[leicsmac]

So what is the alternative to giving him a another chance through attempted rehabilitation then if that offends people so much? Put him death maybe or keep him locked up for the remainder of his life at the taxpayers expense? Can't really think of many other options but I'm all ears.

Why did a twelve year old boy begin this life of crime in the first place? Could it be that perhaps he has been let down by the failure of people who should be nurturing, educating and of course disciplining him or was he just a bad egg by design? If someone had dealt with him a few years ago when his behaviour first deteriorated maybe a lot of the crimes he has been convicted of would never have been committed.

Quoted for sensible comment and lack of hyperbole - sorely needed.

[davieG]

As i said in the first post - Presumably his parents didn't notice anything, turned a blind eye or shared in the proceeds.

I'm not usually one to advocate punishing parents because some do try really hard to discipline their children but it's not easy these days and there's a fine line to cross between punishment and cruelty but if he's been doing this from 12 and in such a prolific way then I find it hard to believe the parents weren't culpable in some way.

It also begs the question has he got any siblings and are they following the same path of crime?

[marbelladave]

It's about nurture.

A big part of that is parenting but it is also the environment that some kids are brought up in.

It is highly unlikely that the teenager in question changed from being a 'nice' child into being a thieving scumbag over night at age 12, bad behaviour and other issues would almost certainly been obvious for years.

Poor parenting and the fact that there are virtually no consequences for this sort of behaviour, even if caught by the authorities, means that kids like this are already out of control by the time they turn 16.

If you believe that kid's lives can be turned round by intervention, then it has to be done at a very early age, certainly before the age of 12, later is too late. That said, there are some exceptional individuals who have gone through appalling things as a child and come out as decent, sometimes inspiring adults, but they sadly are a tiny minority.

The sad truth is that, having been failed by the 'system' as a child, this person is likely to spend his entire life indulging in the antisocial, criminal activities he learned in his formative years, the current 'system' for dealing with adults will probably have little or no effect on him.

[marty78]

As i said in the first post - Presumably his parents didn't notice anything, turned a blind eye or shared in the proceeds.

I'm not usually one to advocate punishing parents because some do try really hard to discipline their children but it's not easy these days and there's a fine line to cross between punishment and cruelty but if he's been doing this from 12 and in such a prolific way then I find it hard to believe the parents weren't culpable in some way.

It also begs the question has he got any siblings and are they following the same path of crime?

I also find it very hard to believe that his behaviour hadn't attracted the attention of the authorities and that others, aside from his parents, couldn't have done more to prevent this problem escalating to such a degree. All of his victims have been let down by the lack of action taken and arguably the boy has as well. He deserves to be punished but there is something seriously wrong when children can become habitual criminals before they even reach adulthood.

[THEFATBASTARD]

Merc

Presumably his parents didn't notice anything, turned a blind eye or shared in the proceeds.

Thats my boy..makes me proud..Ive achieved something.

[marbelladave]

So what is the alternative to giving him a another chance through attempted rehabilitation then if that offends people so much? Put him death maybe or keep him locked up for the remainder of his life at the taxpayers expense? Can't really think of many other options but I'm all ears.

Why did a twelve year old boy begin this life of crime in the first place? Could it be that perhaps he has been let down by the failure of people who should be nurturing, educating and of course disciplining him or was he just a bad egg by design? If someone had dealt with him a few years ago when his behaviour first deteriorated maybe a lot of the crimes he has been convicted of would never have been committed.

There are two separate issues here,

Firstly the failure to nurture the child in it's formative years, compounded by a 'social system' that effectively removes virtually all meaningful sanctions for bad behaviour until that child reaches 16.

Secondly attempting to deal with young offenders once they pass the age of 16, ie does prison work etc

My personal view is that we do everything possible to help the child but if that does not work and they are still thieving scumbags by the time they are 19, then they get locked up for a very long time. (I have plenty of ideas about penal reform but that ia another discussion.)

[Guest Col city fan]

There are two separate issues here,

Firstly the failure to nurture the child in it's formative years, compounded by a 'social system' that effectively removes virtually all meaningful sanctions for bad behaviour until that child reaches 16.

Secondly attempting to deal with young offenders once they pass the age of 16, ie does prison work etc

My personal view is that we do everything possible to help the child but if that does not work and they are still thieving scumbags by the time they are 19, then they get locked up for a very long time. (I have plenty of ideas about penal reform but that ia another discussion.)

Absolutely my view Dave. This is getting a bit daft.. Will you stop it please..