Off Topic Bill Nicholson Arms

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I don't want to get political about this as I detest politics & politicians in general.

I don't believe any right minded person objects to some of the taxes they pay going to support people who genuinely need a hand up - NOT a hand out.

In the case of this sack of ****e, I would object to one penny of my money going to support the lifestyle of a lazy, violent, womanising, total arsehole, like him.

From my experience when I was signing on, people on the dole tend to fall into three categories:
i.) People actively looking for work but make the shortlist without getting the job (which I was, before anyone asks)
ii.) People who see it as free money that don't look for work
iii.) People who have simply given up, and even when applying for jobs don't think they'll get it

The problem is that, from my experience, I was one they considered a pain in the ass because they couldn't dump me in some low-paying, no-prospects job (too many qualifications so I'd never be hired) and I was in a specialised field they had less knowledge of than I did, so basically had to wait for me to get a job to get rid of me - yes, really, someone actually said that to me - yet they seem to allow more leeway to the slackers because the courses they send people on are really a way of finding an excuse to get people off the system (one girl got struck off for using her four sick days for a three months course due to a case of pneumonia, FFS), when the fact is they can control the slackers so easily because all they need to do is threaten their housing benefit and they become meek little lambs.
 
They would have had an easy defence to murder - there was a ladder outside the house so they meant to rescue the children so it wasn't pre-meditated killing so it wasn't murder. Imagine the uproar if they had got off completely. Also the charge has nothing to do with the judge so Totsfan should be criticising the Prosecution if anyone.

There was clear intent to trap the children in the fire. Murder IMO
 
They were downgraded to avoid that dreaded word - technicality (often used in the phrase "acquitted on a...")

As the judge said in the summing-up, he didn't intend to kill his children so any intent, malice and motive could have been dismissed by any halfway competent lawyer who'd just say his intention was to rescue his kids and be seen as the "hero" whilst his ex-mistress went to jail for starting the fire. There were enough ways for his defence to argue Mick shouldn't have been charged with murder and try to get a reduced sentence, which would've led to the judge (wrongly) being lynched by the press for bungling the trial.

I'd add something else to this - if they went for a murder charge against Mick, it is likely Paul Mosley and Mairead Philpott would have got lesser charges, the latter possibly acquitted (given she was clearly looking to stitch up Mick to save her own skin in court last week, her defence team knew this as well), so a manslaughter charge against all three would have seen them jailed. And, let's be honest, it's highly unlikely Mick will be released.

Of course, all this will be ignored by people demonizing the benefits system to push their agenda, a bandwagon that George Osbourne has just jumped on. I don't recall any right wing agendas being pushed when Fred West or Harold Shipman were in court, do you?

But the Middle Class don't commit murder. It's only Benefit scroungers and the poverty stricken that do, the Immigrants make them do it.....
 
Anyone got any news on Lennon?

He's having a scan today. The clubs' medical staff have been telling AVB for weeks that Lennon should be rested more frequently, so I guess they'll be apprehensive about the result.
 
He's having a scan today. The clubs' medical staff have been telling AVB for weeks that Lennon should be rested more frequently, so I guess they'll be apprehensive about the result.

I guess regardless of the result, he should sit out at least the next 2 games. So glad the Chelsea game was postponed!
 
Philpott got life imprisonment- which indicates he was dealt with for the offence on a par with murder. 15 years is the tariff- he can't serve less than that. He can only be considered for parole after 15 years. He will probably serve a lot longer- potentially life. The other two got 17 years. They cannot be considered for parole until they have served at least half- again they will probably serve longer.

There was no intent to kill or cause serious harm- it was an arson which went wrong. No judge can sentence on the basis that there was intent, although this judge obviously considered it to be so reckless that the deaths of the children were inevitable consequences. Nor could she add years to the tariff on the basis of aggravating features such as a sexual motive, sadism, gang killings etc. Tariffs of 25-30 years or whole life tariffs are reserved for the worst offenders where one or more aggravating features are present.
 
He'll probably end up dying in prison, one way or another. He's 56 now and looks every day of it, so I wouldn't have thought he'd be in much of a state at 71.
That's if he manages to avoid getting killed inside, which I'm sure someone will attempt.
 
He'll probably end up dying in prison, one way or another. He's 56 now and looks every day of it, so I wouldn't have thought he'd be in much of a state at 71.
That's if he manages to avoid getting killed inside, which I'm sure someone will attempt.

Well if he ever gets out you just fear this guy might be after him..

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Just to let the regulars on here know that our keeper coach Tony Parks, has now returned to work.
 
Just to let the regulars on here know that our keeper coach Tony Parks, has now returned to work.

Yeah, the commentators mentioned him today and suggested that his son's reacting well to treatment, but that it's a long road to recovery.
Good to see him back and to hear some positive news about his boy. <ok>
 
Yeah, the commentators mentioned him today and suggested that his son's reacting well to treatment, but that it's a long road to recovery.
Good to see him back and to hear some positive news about his boy. <ok>

Pardon my ignorance but what happened?

Presuming its a a serious illness I hope the boy us alright. Never nice to hear things like that whoever it is.
 
I had some friends in Gidea Park who kept asking me for money. They have seven kids and are on housing and child benefits and disability allowance although he can work. Last I heard they were charged by the London Borough of Havering for Housing benefit fraud. These claimants with lots of kids seem to follow a pattern of behaviour. Although not as extreme as Philpott it's claim,claim,claim and prison....shame. Chancellor's right to reform.
 
Although not as extreme as Philpott it's claim,claim,claim and prison....shame. Chancellor's right to reform.

Perhaps they've been looking to our MPs as an example of how to behave? They seem to have largely avoided the prison part though, despite the dubious nature of a lot of their claims for cash.