most probably going to prison
Discussion
feel free to move this to the sp+l section as i cant post there as i am new ( im not new but this account is to protect my anonimity )
i know im in for a ripping and i know ill get no sympathy but im not after sympathy i just need to get this off my chest as i have no friends .
first of all my background , im in my late 30s and i am on bail for theft , i stupidly stole 2 laptops from the warehouse where i work just before christmas and got sacked and arrested ( they had the laptops back ). i have been to magistrates court but they deemed thier powers of sentencing were not enough as this is my 3rd offence ( first time in 2001 i had 3 months prison for theft of a scrap computer from my works , secondly i had 150 hours of community service in 2010 for fraud by false representation , i fiddled the books in my sales job to make £20 a week for myself to make up for the company cutting our commision ).
my lawyer has told me to expect prison but thats the thing , its not only punishing me its punishing my family, i know what i done was wrong but my teenage daughter is self harming and as i couldnt afford a laptop i stupidly tried getting one for her the easy way . i have 3 kids ( 2 are under 6 ) and a wife and if i go to prison we will certainly lose our home .
i have got a new job so i will also lose that .
i admit what i done was wrong but why am i being punished so severely ( i stole £700 worth of stuff from a company which made a profit of £300 million last year, i have seen serial burglars get away with community service and they had stolen from people who are on minimum wage and are struggling for their stuff) ) so for that i will end up costing the country approx £40,000 per year to be locked up ,rehoming my family from a private rented accomodation to an emergency council house , plus whatever benefits i will have to claim when i get out of prison as my chances of employment will be as good as zero .
im not asking to be let off but surely prison should only be for people who cause misery for others , i know nobody agrees with me and i deserve everything i get but why should my kids lose a parent when surely tagging and curfews would be punishment enough ?
i really have learnt my lesson but to the courts im just another serial scum bag who they think will keep re offending.
i have even taken an overdose of tramadol as i cant go through with seeing my family suffer and i am at my wits end
thanks for reading
i know im in for a ripping and i know ill get no sympathy but im not after sympathy i just need to get this off my chest as i have no friends .
first of all my background , im in my late 30s and i am on bail for theft , i stupidly stole 2 laptops from the warehouse where i work just before christmas and got sacked and arrested ( they had the laptops back ). i have been to magistrates court but they deemed thier powers of sentencing were not enough as this is my 3rd offence ( first time in 2001 i had 3 months prison for theft of a scrap computer from my works , secondly i had 150 hours of community service in 2010 for fraud by false representation , i fiddled the books in my sales job to make £20 a week for myself to make up for the company cutting our commision ).
my lawyer has told me to expect prison but thats the thing , its not only punishing me its punishing my family, i know what i done was wrong but my teenage daughter is self harming and as i couldnt afford a laptop i stupidly tried getting one for her the easy way . i have 3 kids ( 2 are under 6 ) and a wife and if i go to prison we will certainly lose our home .
i have got a new job so i will also lose that .
i admit what i done was wrong but why am i being punished so severely ( i stole £700 worth of stuff from a company which made a profit of £300 million last year, i have seen serial burglars get away with community service and they had stolen from people who are on minimum wage and are struggling for their stuff) ) so for that i will end up costing the country approx £40,000 per year to be locked up ,rehoming my family from a private rented accomodation to an emergency council house , plus whatever benefits i will have to claim when i get out of prison as my chances of employment will be as good as zero .
im not asking to be let off but surely prison should only be for people who cause misery for others , i know nobody agrees with me and i deserve everything i get but why should my kids lose a parent when surely tagging and curfews would be punishment enough ?
i really have learnt my lesson but to the courts im just another serial scum bag who they think will keep re offending.
i have even taken an overdose of tramadol as i cant go through with seeing my family suffer and i am at my wits end
thanks for reading
ihatemylife said:
feel free to move this to the sp+l section as i cant post there as i am new ( im not new but this account is to protect my anonimity )
i know im in for a ripping and i know ill get no sympathy but im not after sympathy i just need to get this off my chest as i have no friends .
first of all my background , im in my late 30s and i am on bail for theft , i stupidly stole 2 laptops from the warehouse where i work just before christmas and got sacked and arrested ( they had the laptops back ). i have been to magistrates court but they deemed thier powers of sentencing were not enough as this is my 3rd offence ( first time in 2001 i had 3 months prison for theft of a scrap computer from my works , secondly i had 150 hours of community service in 2010 for fraud by false representation , i fiddled the books in my sales job to make £20 a week for myself to make up for the company cutting our commision ).
my lawyer has told me to expect prison but thats the thing , its not only punishing me its punishing my family, i know what i done was wrong but my teenage daughter is self harming and as i couldnt afford a laptop i stupidly tried getting one for her the easy way . i have 3 kids ( 2 are under 6 ) and a wife and if i go to prison we will certainly lose our home .
i have got a new job so i will also lose that .
i admit what i done was wrong but why am i being punished so severely ( i stole £700 worth of stuff from a company which made a profit of £300 million last year, i have seen serial burglars get away with community service and they had stolen from people who are on minimum wage and are struggling for their stuff) ) so for that i will end up costing the country approx £40,000 per year to be locked up ,rehoming my family from a private rented accomodation to an emergency council house , plus whatever benefits i will have to claim when i get out of prison as my chances of employment will be as good as zero .
im not asking to be let off but surely prison should only be for people who cause misery for others , i know nobody agrees with me and i deserve everything i get but why should my kids lose a parent when surely tagging and curfews would be punishment enough ?
i really have learnt my lesson but to the courts im just another serial scum bag who they think will keep re offending.
i have even taken an overdose of tramadol as i cant go through with seeing my family suffer and i am at my wits end
thanks for reading
Oh dear.i know im in for a ripping and i know ill get no sympathy but im not after sympathy i just need to get this off my chest as i have no friends .
first of all my background , im in my late 30s and i am on bail for theft , i stupidly stole 2 laptops from the warehouse where i work just before christmas and got sacked and arrested ( they had the laptops back ). i have been to magistrates court but they deemed thier powers of sentencing were not enough as this is my 3rd offence ( first time in 2001 i had 3 months prison for theft of a scrap computer from my works , secondly i had 150 hours of community service in 2010 for fraud by false representation , i fiddled the books in my sales job to make £20 a week for myself to make up for the company cutting our commision ).
my lawyer has told me to expect prison but thats the thing , its not only punishing me its punishing my family, i know what i done was wrong but my teenage daughter is self harming and as i couldnt afford a laptop i stupidly tried getting one for her the easy way . i have 3 kids ( 2 are under 6 ) and a wife and if i go to prison we will certainly lose our home .
i have got a new job so i will also lose that .
i admit what i done was wrong but why am i being punished so severely ( i stole £700 worth of stuff from a company which made a profit of £300 million last year, i have seen serial burglars get away with community service and they had stolen from people who are on minimum wage and are struggling for their stuff) ) so for that i will end up costing the country approx £40,000 per year to be locked up ,rehoming my family from a private rented accomodation to an emergency council house , plus whatever benefits i will have to claim when i get out of prison as my chances of employment will be as good as zero .
im not asking to be let off but surely prison should only be for people who cause misery for others , i know nobody agrees with me and i deserve everything i get but why should my kids lose a parent when surely tagging and curfews would be punishment enough ?
i really have learnt my lesson but to the courts im just another serial scum bag who they think will keep re offending.
i have even taken an overdose of tramadol as i cant go through with seeing my family suffer and i am at my wits end
thanks for reading
Not sure what to stay. The fact that you took the temptation seems to say you had not learnt your lesson.
It's obviously very tough on your family and they have my sympathy - it's why most of our inner voices would say don't do it.
If your teenage daughter needs help get her to the Doctors. I'm sure there must be some counselling designed to help out families in these situations.
It's obviously very tough on your family and they have my sympathy - it's why most of our inner voices would say don't do it.
If your teenage daughter needs help get her to the Doctors. I'm sure there must be some counselling designed to help out families in these situations.
Sorry for your current circumstances, but this is the third time you have been caught. So lessons that could have been learnt previously obviously haven't been learned - why do you think you should get another chance?
Either those three were the only crimes you have committed, in which case you might have learned that you are crap at crime and ought not to do it, or, like the BiB on here say, you have four other offences for each one you get caught at, and a decent severe sentence sounds justified.
Again, very sorry for the pain that you have caused your family, but it's time to face up to your responsibilities - you have caused this, nobody else.
Either those three were the only crimes you have committed, in which case you might have learned that you are crap at crime and ought not to do it, or, like the BiB on here say, you have four other offences for each one you get caught at, and a decent severe sentence sounds justified.
Again, very sorry for the pain that you have caused your family, but it's time to face up to your responsibilities - you have caused this, nobody else.
Tough position to be in....
IMO your best bet would be to get some 'reformed' character references from others (ideally people like the local reverend, neighbor etc.) stating how much others (never you) would be affected on a non-financial basis - young kids, family issues, how you have got yourself a new job to provide for your family etc. - give them to your lawyer to present on your behalf.
Is there a means to offer to do additional community service?
Other than that be considerate, remorseful, respectful in all ways (inc. how you dress) etc.
But more so than anything, you were given 2 chances and now you want a third? - why would a judge give you that when you've already re-offended twice?
How is stealing from your employer better than somebody on the street - its worse IMO as you're in a position of trust!
IMO your best bet would be to get some 'reformed' character references from others (ideally people like the local reverend, neighbor etc.) stating how much others (never you) would be affected on a non-financial basis - young kids, family issues, how you have got yourself a new job to provide for your family etc. - give them to your lawyer to present on your behalf.
Is there a means to offer to do additional community service?
Other than that be considerate, remorseful, respectful in all ways (inc. how you dress) etc.
But more so than anything, you were given 2 chances and now you want a third? - why would a judge give you that when you've already re-offended twice?
How is stealing from your employer better than somebody on the street - its worse IMO as you're in a position of trust!
Ummm, this is a very traumatising time for you (and I hope it is a genuine post and not a troll - sorry!) but I'd suggest that you need to talk to someone in person if you haven't already done so and tell them how you feel - a friend or relative perhaps?
The words of strangers on the internet might be reassuring but some won't be so nice and it sounds as if your state of mind might not be strong enough to deal with that right now.
Your last line is quite worrying but I hope that you are not currently considering that as a way out. Things will get better but you need to take whatever punishment comes your way and use it as an incentive to change your life for the better.
Again, I would stress you should talk to your family about your fears and concerns if you haven't already done so.
The words of strangers on the internet might be reassuring but some won't be so nice and it sounds as if your state of mind might not be strong enough to deal with that right now.
Your last line is quite worrying but I hope that you are not currently considering that as a way out. Things will get better but you need to take whatever punishment comes your way and use it as an incentive to change your life for the better.
Again, I would stress you should talk to your family about your fears and concerns if you haven't already done so.
Mixed feelings about this one and I'm pretty right wing (but with a social conscience)
On a practical side I think you may escape prison which would allow you to carry on as a father and in employment however, are you showing true remorse and regret and taking action to demonstrate this. I certainly hear of people with crime lists as long as their arm who still walk the streets so is this the full story.
Blimey. I want to say be positive and yet feel you are getting your just desserts.
One things for sure, I can't see prison making the situation better.
On a practical side I think you may escape prison which would allow you to carry on as a father and in employment however, are you showing true remorse and regret and taking action to demonstrate this. I certainly hear of people with crime lists as long as their arm who still walk the streets so is this the full story.
Blimey. I want to say be positive and yet feel you are getting your just desserts.
One things for sure, I can't see prison making the situation better.
Stealing food because you cant afford to buy it to feed your family I can understand, but laptops? Granted though, whilst I have little sympathy for you in terms of what you have done, it does seem a harsh sentence for that single crime. I would suggest getting some psychological assessment, not just of you but also of affected family members. It may help in court in getting a more justifiable punishment, but importantly for your daughter and for yourself it may help you stop yourself from doing something very, very, very stupid.
You're a repeat offender though. That won't look good and perhaps that is why the prison sentencing is on the cards.
You're a repeat offender though. That won't look good and perhaps that is why the prison sentencing is on the cards.
Edited by thatdude on Tuesday 14th January 16:04
ihatemylife said:
my lawyer has told me to expect prison but thats the thing , its not only punishing me its punishing my family , i know what i done was wrong but my teenage daughter is self harming and as i couldnt afford a laptop i stupidly tried getting one for her the easy way . i have 3 kids ( 2 are under 6 ) and a wife and if i go to prison we will certainly lose our home .
i have got a new job so i will also lose that .
Well... you should have thought about that bit when you were stealing those laptops!i have got a new job so i will also lose that .
I really want a Porsche... maybe I should go and steal one, and then cry out for compassion in court!
I could almost understand this if it was your first time offending, the fact you have been caught three times tells me your a habitual thief.
Your playing the family card hoping to get sympathy, well you should of thought of the consequences of your actions beforehand, like the rest of us.
I'd love for my wife to have a sports car but I cant afford it - should I steal it from a 'faceless' corporation who wont notice?
Face up to your actions, accept the punishment and sort your life out. Your daughter will look up to you much more for that than stealing a laptop for her.
Sorry it this appears harsh. but it is.
Your playing the family card hoping to get sympathy, well you should of thought of the consequences of your actions beforehand, like the rest of us.
I'd love for my wife to have a sports car but I cant afford it - should I steal it from a 'faceless' corporation who wont notice?
Face up to your actions, accept the punishment and sort your life out. Your daughter will look up to you much more for that than stealing a laptop for her.
Sorry it this appears harsh. but it is.
I pretty much agree with you. There's another thread on here today about fines for no TV/driving licences. The sentencing/punishment plans in the UK need changing. I hope that you won't be going to prison but if you do and you were interested then I'm sure that you could spend your time inside learning lots of good tips about how not to get caught next time and I'm sure that wouldn't benefit the general public either. I visited a womens prison many years ago and the issues you describe fit perfectly with what I saw. The women in the prison had a reasonable life, good food and exercise, opportunities for education. When we were leaving a lot of visitors were arriving, men with small children, or grandparents with grand children. It was quite clear who was suffering most for the crimes of the people inside. My preference would be a wider use of tagging and strict curfews. This could enable someone like you to stay in work but still lose some liberties and rights that overs value. It's also of course not an ideal solution.
Good. Can't f
king stand thieves.
To put this in some context I currently have less than a tenner to last me the next week or ten days. I'm living off odds and sods from the back of the cupboard, long-forgotten frozen things and fruit from work. I may have to walk to work for a few days when I'm out of petrol. What I won't do is steal.
king stand thieves.To put this in some context I currently have less than a tenner to last me the next week or ten days. I'm living off odds and sods from the back of the cupboard, long-forgotten frozen things and fruit from work. I may have to walk to work for a few days when I'm out of petrol. What I won't do is steal.
Edited by rohrl on Tuesday 14th January 16:12
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