From: jethro_uk@hotmailbin.com 
  
 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. 
  
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