By Judi McLeod ——Bio and Archives--August 1, 2018
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“Child grooming is befriending and establishing an emotional connection with a child, and sometimes the family, to lower the child's inhibitions with the objective of sexual abuse. Child grooming is also regularly used to lure minors into various illicit businesses such as child trafficking, child prostitution, or the production of child pornography. “This crime has been proscribed in various ways since the International Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Women and Children, which was agreed in 1921 as a multilateral treaty of the League of Nations that addressed the problem of international trafficking of women and children for nefarious purposes. The proscribed traffic was international in nature at that time. The concept of localised grooming, in which gangs groom neighbourhood victims, was defined in 2010 by the UK Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre. “Online grooming of youngsters via chat rooms and webcams is an area COST team officers are encountering more and more.”
“The English Defence League (EDL) founder was sentenced to 13 months in prison earlier this year after broadcasting footage of trial defendants on social media.” Notice how The Sun, in fairness much like other major media, refer to “the footage of trial defendants”, not child grooming defendants on social media? “But the 35-year-old, who did not appear for the hearing, is a free man again after the Court of Appeal ruled there were technical flaws in the ruling of the judge who jailed him.”The Daily Mail was more specific about the botched case which ended in Tommy Robinson’s May arrest. “Ex-EDL leader Tommy Robinson is freed on bail after top judges rule his 13-month sentence for contempt was 'muddled and rushed' because he was jailed just five hours after his arrest.”(Daily Mail, July 31, 2018)
“Tommy Robinson streamed an hour-long Facebook Live outside Leeds Crown Court in May and was later arrested and jailed for 13 months after admitting being in contempt of court - but was freed on bail today. “Tommy Robinson was freed on bail today after judges ruled it was 'unfair' the former EDL leader was given 13 months in prison during a 'muddled' court case rushed through just five hours after his arrest.
“The far right activist, 35, has been in prison for two months after filming defendants involved in a criminal trial at Leeds Crown Court in May and broadcasting the footage to 250,000 people using Facebook Live. “The far-right activist appealed against his 13-month jail term for contempt of court claiming the punishment was 'excessive' and the hearing was ‘rushed'. “Today the Court of Appeal quashed his conviction saying the decision to jail him within five hours of his arrest 'gave rise to unfairness'. “A panel of three senior judges also criticised Mr Justice Marson, the judge who sent him to prison, saying he gave 'no clarity' about what parts Facebook Live video were problematic and ignored that it was deleted shortly after his arrest. “The judge also denied Robinson the chance to defend himself properly by not adjourning the case to another day, the ruling said. “Robinson's successful appeal caused supporters to cry with joy and cheer wildly before chanting 'Tommy's coming home' to the tune of England football anthem Three Lions. “Anti-racism supporters had also gathered on the Royal Courts of Justice and were shouting chants such as 'Nazi scum, off our streets' and 'refugees are welcome here' as the judgment came in. “Supporters clung to one another and jumped for joy when news of Robinson's release emerged.”
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