Gavin Hopper Jailed
Australia - 6/08/2004
Tennis coach Gavin Hopper has received a three-and-a-half-year jail sentence for having a relationship with a 14-year-old girl about 20 years ago.
This begs the question: What will a jail term achieve in this situation? The only thing that I can see is that it will give the victim a sense of justice. Other than that, it just creates more victims.
Don’t get me wrong – Gavin did the wrong thing. But if he hasn’t done anything wrong for the last 19 years, he could hardly be considered a risk to the general public.
Gavin has a wife and children – innocent victims of this whole ordeal. Are they to be made to suffer even more by their husband/father’s absence?
I don’t think there should be a statute of limitations. Sometimes it takes a prior victim who is now an adult to be the first to make claims against someone. The publicity of the case would then allow for other victims to come forward – and determine whether there have been recent/current incidents. I think though, that where there have been no other incidents, the sentences should take the length of time in the past the events occurred into consideration. Jail is a pointless imposition in this kind of situation.
I will grant though, that if the jury got it right, it means that Gavin has refused to take responsibility for his actions (by pleading not guilty and denying the relationship). Such a situation demands a heavier penalty.
| Others' Views: Based on 19 votes |
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| Totally agree: | 
(47.4%) |
| Mostly agree: | 
(5.3%) |
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(5.3%) |
| Totally disagree: |
(42.1%) |