From: uklm@permabulator.33mail.com 
  
 On 14:11  17 Aug 2025, Jethro_uk said: 
 > On Sun, 17 Aug 2025 10:27:21 +0100, GB wrote: 
 >> On 16/08/2025 23:40, Jon Ribbens wrote: 
 >>> On 2025-08-16, Jethro_uk  wrote: 
 >>>> On Sat, 16 Aug 2025 11:47:01 +0000, Jon Ribbens wrote: 
 >>>>> On 2025-08-16, Jethro_uk  wrote: 
 >>>>>> On Fri, 15 Aug 2025 20:06:46 +0100, GB wrote: 
 >>>>>>> 
 >>>>>>> 
 >>>>>>> In particular, she claimed she didn't understand the 
 >>>>>>> consequences of pleading guilty, which the COA found 
 >>>>>>> 'incredible' - which is fairly close to calling her a blatant 
 >>>>>>> liar. 
 >>>>>> 
 >>>>>> So she really is a bit dim ? 
 >>>>>> 
 >>>>>> I am reminded of people who subsequently discover that accepting 
 >>>>>> a caution is pleading guilty. 
 >>>>> 
 >>>>> I've got a lot more sympathy for that - it doesn't involve 
 >>>>> standing up in court and saying "guilty", and the police often do 
 >>>>> not inform you in any clear way at all that you're pleading 
 >>>>> guilty to a crime by signing the papers and that you will 
 >>>>> therefore have a criminal record. They'll be stressing that if 
 >>>>> you sign you can go home straight away and not have to stay 
 >>>>> overnight in jail and not have to go to court. 
 >>>> 
 >>>> Is that justice ? 
 >>> 
 >>> Well no I don't think so, hence my comment. 
 >>> 
 >>> 
 >> For the sort of offences cautions might be used for, the trial would 
 >> be in the Magistrates Court, and assuming there's reasonable 
 >> evidence a conviction is highly likely. So, there'll still be a 
 >> criminal record. 
 >> 
 >> So, I suppose the point you are making is that in practice the Crown 
 >> might not bother to prosecute, or would lose the papers, etc. The 
 >> police would still record the incident on their computer, and it 
 >> could show up on a DBS check, but there'd be no conviction to 
 >> disclose. 
 > 
 > I have read on various fora that it's probably a good strategy to 
 > refuse a caution, as that means the CPS have to decide and it's not 
 > unknown for them to decline to prosecute. Admittedly if they do there 
 > is a chance of a stiffer sentence, but depending on circumstances 
 > it's worth a punt. 
  
 In Lucy Connolly's case she was refused bail and faced the prospect of 
 being remanded until her case could be heard which she believed might 
 not be until the following spring. 
  
 As we know, she had a 12-year-old daughter and sick husband which made 
 such detention a particular strain. 
  
 --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05 
  * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)