Done the Crime, done the time

When I was younger, I read "The Green Mile" as a serialized novel. Later I watched the exceptionally good Film adaptation.

One of the things I remember distinctly about both the book and the film is the concept that when the man has been put to death, that's it. He's square with the house, his debt is paid, and he is treated with respect and even reverence.

What a pity that doesn't seem to apply in the UK.

Now, the law in the UK is that you get sentenced according to your offence, and then (except in very specific circumstances) you get automatically released after served 1/2 of your sentence. You then remain "on licence" until your sentence end date, the basis being that controlled release and rehabilitation is more effective than retribution and punishment of the loss of your liberty. Moreover, as occurred to me, you can be recalled if your Offender Manager believes you are a further risk.

So therefore, unless you do something else wrong, when you get released, you've done your time, in terms of prison. Even though you have probation time to do, you are square with the big house.

Yet suddenly, this week, I find that after nearly a year from re-release and within sight of the end of my licence, a company I have had some dealings with wants to try to make my status public to help them win a court case. Apparently Offenders on licence have no rights, and certainly shouldn't expect to be allowed phone lines, internet service, cars, insurance or even housing.

Now, as my gentle reader will know, (sorry Isaac) I am currently appealing in any case, and so anything done by an individual relying on my conviction is on shaky ground. So why then, does this company think it, and only it, is the arbiter of who can tell my neighbours etc about my offending?

And, guess what Northans MAPPA are doing about it? You're right, sweet feck-all.

Ah well, might be time to move.

Normality returns

Well, what news - apart from I've been away from the computer too long.

OK - First things first. My target for normality was always Home, Car, Job.

And a few days ago, I achieved all three. I've been in the flat here since October 2009, barring a recall, and I started work for an IT firm in Corby about a month ago. Not only that, one of the directors was selling an old Audi, which I picked up for £200 and now use for commuting.

So, Home, Car, Job achieved.

Not only that, Lisa and I are finally sorted too - back together and a proper couple, finally
:-D

My lovely ex, Anne, is still on bail, and has been remanded on Tag Bail pending her trial for Perverting the Course of Justice, Perjury and Harassment. My solicitor says that if she's found guilty, she will likely go down for a Jeffrey Archer stretch.

So all in all, life is getting better, step by step.

Have a good break, seasons greetings etc, and I will be back in the new year, hopefully with even more news.

Justice starts to prevail :-)

Finally things are happenning.

My ex has been charged with Perverting the Course of Justice, not just in my recall, but also in my original trial. Ex is on bail with conditions not to approach me, contact me (even via Solicitors) or ask any person to do so on her behalf, and she's on a 10 hour daily tag.

This means the Police now are considering my original papers and my solicitor has invited me to consider appeal against conviction and seek a re-trial. The logic behind this is that in any retrial, I can't get a heavier sentence than I did first time round, and that will be served by the time I come back to trial (especially since I'm currently on licence). As a result, my record would be clear, and I'd get compensation for wrongful imprisonment.

Moreover, Probation has now apologised for my Probation Officer lying to people about me, and taken me off his books and onto a new one (my fifth in 4 years) who has been told that I am to be signed once a month and otherwise left alone, particularly now I'm potentially appealing.

My MAPPA officer has also told me, "off the record" that MAPPA has reconsidered me and I will get maybe 1 visit a year from here on in, which will stop altogether if I am acquitted at a retrial. Also, Lisa has agreed to give evidence on my behalf in any civil or criminal proceedings relating to my trial or the trial of my ex :-D

Finally, I've been offered a job, which I found online, and Probation has waved it through on the nod.

Now know people reading this will say "But Fenrir, if you did it and pleaded it, why are you seeking an appeal and retrial?" Well, the simple answer is that this prosecution was not for something I actually did, but for something I thought. I hurt no-one, and Lisa's testimony confirms this. If no-one gets hurt in something going on between two consenting parties, what's the public interest in the prosecution? And without Anne's false testimony starting the case, the police would have had no grounds to search the house, seize the computers etc, so the case would never have happened.

So it's been a very good October. In fact the only bad thing that's happened in the last month is that Lisa and I have broken up - we are still very good friends, but there is too much stress going on for her to carry on with me.

Ah well, every silver lining has a cloud...

What chance the Ex Offender

Lets make a few things clear - I did what I was accused of doing. I pleaded guilty and I have served the custodial element required by law. I may have another 9 months of Probation supervision left, but ultimately, I have done my time, and more...

So, whilst recognising that I am still serving the rehabilitative element of my sentence, surely the agencies I engage with should be looking to help me find work, or training, and not trying to prevent me from working?

So... lets see what my licence conditions say:

1) Must permanently reside at an address previously notified to and agreed by your supervising officer and Must not reside, even for one night, at any other address without the prior consent of your supervising officer.

2) Must not engage in any work paid or unpaid, including voluntary work, without the prior consent of your supervising officer.

3) Must not access any online forum, board or community without the prior consent of your supervising officer.

So, according to item 1 I can't work nights, or do Long-Haul deliveries.

According to 2 I can't start a job unless my OM approves it, and according to 3 I can't even look for work online at all.

I have to assume that the Powers that Be don't actually want me working, and I have pointed this out to both Probation and the Job Centre. And nothing is going on.

Oh, that's not true - Ive been forced onto the new "Work programme" so I went for an appointment with the local provider. And took along my disclosure document.

From the start my appointment was going to be unsatisfactory - despite the provider being made aware of my issues with the staff member who did initial interviews, she started the process with me before passing me to a colleague.

This colleague seemed polite, and helpful, but was uncertain of what she was doing; "it's my first day doing this job".

Initially she scan-read my documents, but then started to ask me the same questions again. When my Criminal Record was broached, she read my disclosure document, and her face changed from "how can we help this guy" to "let's get rid of this pervert now, he should never have been let out of prison"

The remainder of the interview from that point seemed to be as much about justifying refusing to take me on the programme as to try to help me, and certainly the proposed action plan does nothing to assist me. Indeed when I explained the training I am seeking, I was told, flatly, that this would not be available unless I had a job offer - it must be clear that in this recession, this is not how things work, and indeed this is contrary to the intentions and aims of the "client-needs focussed" Work Programme.


So, if I'm not being supported by the people being paid to support ex-offenders (for such is what I am) and I'm not being supported by the government programmes for unemployed people, what hope is there of me finding a job.

I may as well start stealing from shops - I won't go to prison for it (for the first 150 times I get caught anyway) and I might end up better off.

And even if I do end up in court and in prison, at least I don't have to worry about money when I'm in there and I can declare a different offence on release.

Strangely, Probation don't want to talk to me about this...

Happy Holidays

I've just got back from a lovely time away, and apologies I didn't let you all know I was going to Dartmoor for 2 weeks.

I say "Just Got Back" - but actually I got back on 30 August, as I had to prepare for three cases over the last 2 weeks.

The first one was the outstanding Police SOPO matter. That was finally heard on 2 September by a Circuit Judge, who dismissed the Police application as entirely unreasonable, accepted my proposed amendments to my own SOPO, and made the order with costs, since I first asked for that identical order 7 months ago!

The second one was a childcare matter - which the first one has affected quite nicely.

And the third was a Moneyclaim for £4500. I lost the battle, but won the war, as the other side are now entering into mediation with me :-)

So all in all a satisfactory week.

Oh, and my ex has been arrested again, for Perverting the Course of Justice. Karma's a bitch, baby.

Courting the Courts

Well now...

On Friday, my £10,000 money case was set aside and the defendant got leave to file and serve a new defence. That's fine, because they didn't get costs and it therefore cost them £1500 to get to the position they are now in.

on Monday, the Police yet again failed to comply with court orders to file and serve evidence, and so I've applied back to the court for the whole thing to be dismissed with prejudice.

On Tuesday the Childcare case got set back again to September because the Social Services Department couldn't be bothered to actually attend the hearing.

And I'm now in court in August (twice) , September, and October.

My Offender Manager thinks this is a good thing, apart from I've put in a complaint about him lying to police about me.

Ho Hum...

Police fail again

I was in court yesterday, again. Unrepresented and making my own arguments, as is my wont.

And, as is becoming traditional, I got what I wanted.

The Police told me the latest amendment they wanted with 5 days notice. When I pointed this out to the judge, he slapped them with prejudice, adjourned it for 2 months to prepare, and gave me a Wasted Costs Order.

And in the meantime the new order they are asking for tried to stop me using any form of realtime text-based communication except SMS.

So no Typetalk to speak to my Deaf friends, no online purchases, and no Instant Messaging at all.

So how does not talking to a 44 year old deaf friend prevent me from causing Serious Sexual Harm to the public? How is that necessary and proportionate to their quite reasonable request that I not talk to teenagers?

There is established law on this, its in a case called Hemsley 2010 [EWCA Crim 225]. What a pity that the Police don't appear to be able to read.

Court again in Friday - £10,000 debt claim where they want the judgment set aside. I'll update you all over the weekend.