21-year-old child rapist walks free from court, judge’s case shocking

Sean Hogg, now 21, was convicted of raping a 13-year-old girl at Dalkeith Country Park in Midlothian, Scotland. However, when he left court, he only receiveda sentence of forced labor. According to court documents obtained by MirrorSean Hogg had assaulted this girl, whose identity was not revealed, in a park. He had it then threatened while taking off the bottom of her outfit. Seizing the girl by the wrists, he had her forced to engage in a sexual act. This before raping her.

Yet Sean Hogg received only 270 hours of hard labor as a penalty. Judge Lord Lake said his age was a determining factor in her decision. Note that Sean Hogg was 17 at the time of the events. “Rape is one of the most serious crimes and that is why it is tried by the High Court“, explained the judge Lord Lake. “Considering the circumstances, his age and vulnerability are aggravating factors. To determine the level of severity, I must take into account your responsibility and take into account your age as a factor“, he continued before announcing: “This offence, if committed by an adult over the age of 25, is punishable by a sentence of four or five years. I do not consider this to be appropriate and I have no intention of sending you to prison“.

A decision that aroused the indignation of many figures

Needless to say, this decision by Judge Lord Lake did not not unanimous. “Given the seriousness of this crime and the fact that it was tried by the High Court, this sentence seems to us worryingly lenient.“announced Sandy Brindley, CEO of Rape Crisis Scotland. For his part, Jamie Greene, spokesperson for the Scottish Conservative Party, said: “The lack of jail time is a complete insult to the young teenage victim in this case“.