Both child grooming and emotional and sexual assault are illegal in the UK, bizarre as this may seem to you.
16 is not underage in the UK, where this is alleged to have happened.
vashti@feddit.uk 9 months ago
Tatters@feddit.uk 9 months ago
I fully support them being illegal, why would you think that would be bizarre to me?
I merely pointed out, in the case of the 16 year old schoolgirl, she was not legally underage, no matter how shocking and disturbing we may find Brand’s behaviour, which I do. I don’t think she has made any claims of rape or assault against Brand, but others have. I don’t know what laws, if any, apply to his treatment of her, but I don’t think underage sex is one of them.
If we think something is already illegal when it isn’t, then it reduces the incentive to change the law - why make something illegal when you already think it is? Possibly the UK needs new legislation to vary the age of consent depending on the participants, as in other states.
vashti@feddit.uk 9 months ago
She has accused him of both rape and of grooming her. What on earth do you think her punching him in the stomach while he forcibly deep throated her was supposed to be?
This has been highlighted in the news coverage.
Tatters@feddit.uk 9 months ago
Sorry, I had not seen that particular accusation from “Alice”, but the story is evolving and there are many people coming forward with different allegations.
Tesco@lemmy.world 9 months ago
While it’s not “technically” underage rape, let’s be honest it basically is. No normal person thinks it’s acceptable for some in there 30s to have a relationship with a 16 year old.
The law is there to protect say an 18 year old in collage, where it’s common for 16-18 year olds to be in the same classes, not for creepy 30+ year olds.
essteeyou@lemmy.world 9 months ago
That’s not how the law works though. You can drink whatever alcohol you can legally buy the second you turn 18 (in the UK). The same applies for sex at 16. Maybe you don’t like it, but 16 is the age of consent for sex, with whoever else is legal.
Tesco@lemmy.world 9 months ago
He’s abusing the law, it’s obviously not designed for a 30 plus year old to have a relationship with a 16 year old.
Lorela@lemmy.world 9 months ago
It was last revised under the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885 where it was raised from 13 to 16… so I would think it probably was designed exactly that way. None of the parliaments in the UK seem to have any intention of raising it.
riskable@programming.dev 9 months ago
This is the British parliament we’re talking about. The law was likely designed so that British politicians and nobility could bang a 14 or 15yo and still have a chance at convincing a jury that they, “thought they were 16! It’s not like I’m going to demand ID!”