The British judicial system has failed to imprison one-third of convicted sexual offenders, including child predators, in England and Wales over the past seven years.
A report has found that 14,530 of the 44,721 convicted adult sex offenders avoided prison time, receiving instead merely suspended or community sentences, between 2013 and 2020.
The investigation carried out by the Observer found that just over 60 per cent of convicted sex offenders were immediately imprisoned, while the remainder of offenders were given slap-on-the-wrist treatment, such as fines or conditional discharges.
The report went on to claim that some of those who escaped jail time included people convicted of sexual assaults against children under the age of 13 and others who engaged in sexual activity with underage teens.
Data went on to reveal that nearly one-fifth of adults (371 of 2,075) who were found to have committed non-penetrative sexual assault against girls under the age of 13 was not sent to prison during the same time period.
A further 20 per cent of adults convicted for penetrative sexual activity with teenage girls between 13 and 15 years old were only subjected to suspended or community sentences. Some 40 per cent of those sentenced for non-penetrative sexual acts with girls in the same age range also escaped prison time.
A solicitor at the Centre for Women’s Justice, Kate Ellis, said in response to the findings: “I think these figures are very concerning. It does seem hard to explain why so many offenders accused of serious sexual offences, including offences against children under 13, would not face an immediate custodial sentence.”
Labour MP Stella Creasy said: “The government must urgently explain why under their watch thousands of serious sexual offenders who have abused children and young girls, in particular, are getting a slap on the wrist or a fine at most,” adding: “We don’t need more consultations or strategies or heartfelt apologies, we need answers and actions now.”
