Ok, ive not mentioned this before because I really genuinely thought that nothing would come of it but now I just really need some advice.

About a year ago (June I think it was), OH bought a computer. I'll be honest, we thought there might have been something dodgy about it because it was so cheap but we knew the bloke and he came up with a convincing story so we bought it and thought nothing more of it.

Well, a month or so later we were at home when a policeman turned up on the doorstep and asked to look at our computer. We let him look at it and he then told OH he wanted him to go to the station to answer a few questions.
OH explained how he had got the pc and after much questioning, was told he would be done for handling stolen goods with intent.
Anyway, he had to go to court today and I honestly honestly thought that nothing would happen - all OH had done was buy a computer off someone! He's just called me to say they have convicted him of handling stolen goods with intent (apparently the intent bit means he knew it was stolen when he bought it) and needs to go back to court next week for sentancing. Im petrified - what will happen???? He has been told he may have to do unpaid weekend work for a few months and get this - if i went into labour when he was working, they wouldnt even allow him time off to be with me. Im kicking myself for being so stupid and buying the bloody stupid computer in the first place. Just want to scream, im so worried about what will happen next. OH is no criminal!!!! What if he cant come with me when i have beanie? I feel awful, this is exactly what i didnt need right now.

Sorry for the rant (again), im making a habit of this

xx

oh my gosh, that is horrible i'm so sorry, hun. I really don't know what kind of sentencing he would get for that (honestly, he should have been let off free!) but i do hope it isn't over the top

my gosh hun.... this sounds awful!!!
I studied law at university and I am also a special police officer!! So stories like this really infuriate me... why dont they convict the real criminals!!! I want to say nothing will come of it because the CPS really need some solid proof that he knew it was stolen?!? What about your solicitor?? Has s/he helped!?! xxxx

I know - there are people walking the streets who are 'real' criminals and they seem to get off scott free when people like OH are done for silly things like this!

Because we knew the bloke (sort of) and OH text him to ask if the computer was still available as we did want it, they are using this as 'proof' that we knew it was stolen. Our solicitor has been good and given OH some great advice but I guess none of that mattered in the end. He also said that unfortunately, weather we knew it was stolen or not, handling stolen goods can often be given as much of a punishment as actually stealing it!
OH has to go back for sentancing and the solicitor has said it looks likely that he will be given a fine for £995 (the value of the computer) and ordered to do some unpaid work as its not his first offence (he got done for nicking a car stereo when he was 17 - before i knew him and before he grew up!) so am not a happy bunny.

Thanks for your support though xx

That's shocking that they would think that just because he bought the computer he knew he was buying stole goods! Thinking of you, hopefully the sentencing won't be too bad

Hi hun, I've just asked DH as he was doing community service when I first met him.

If he has to do community service, he will also get a probation officer. If he explains the situation to them, they should be able to help and be a little leniant. When Stu did it, the doors were locked at 9am and he was not allowed to leave. But if an emergency came up, he says that he feels sure they would have let him out. He just said that if we were in the same situation, and I went into labour, then he would have "broke the bloody door down"

Oh, and he'll get 3 chances before he gets dragged back to court. So he can actually not turn for on 3 occassions before he gets into trouble. And if it comes to that, he should only get extra hours.

Lets face it, if he does get this, the chances of you actually going into labour during the 7 hours he's there are minimal (he'll only be forced to do 7 hours if he works fulltime).

Look on the bright side - he'll be a whizz at painting walls, scrubbing off graffiti, and making rabbit hutches and birdtables!! (just trying to cheer you up hun, I'm not making light of it because I know you must be worried)

[quote=Amanda;423215]Oh, and he'll get 3 chances before he gets dragged back to court. So he can actually not turn for on 3 occassions before he gets into trouble. And if it comes to that, he should only get extra hours.
QUOTE]

The law states that if he fails to agree with community service hours he can infact be retried for the original offence!! Not sure what the maximum is for handling stolen goods with intent but Im sure a custodial sentence has a mention!! So he doesnt want to be doing that!!

also from what I remember from uni about community service he will be given a set amount of hours that has to be completed within a certain amount of time!!! Im sure his probation officer will allow time off for his baby being born. he will just have to make it up the following week!!!

OMG! I have worked in law for five years and am a law student and I find this absolutely ridiculous and a demonstration on how the UK law looks in all the wrong places to solve our crime problems!

I am really sure that the sentance will not be as bad as you think - the solicitor has to give you the worse case scenario, and there is a three strike system. I doubt they will hold a crime he did before he was 18 against him in court. Your solicitor should be able to ham it up, about him being a good citizen and a father to be! Just hope the sentencing judge (or magistrate?) is in a good mood and a father!

Good luck and I hope you get a good outcome you can both live with - don't go stressing over it too much.

Agree.... his pre-sentence report will work in his favour!!! God I wish I remembered more!!! A year off from uni and 6 months from the police and baby brain isnt a good combo!!

God, i have forgotton so much too! Criminal law wasnt my strong point!