3987 days ago
It was the night before Christmas and BBC Chairman Lord Christopher Patten lay in his grand four poster bed in his Country Estate, sleeping, but only fitfully.
Turning over to the left, he looked longingly at the bedside photo of his pet dog Chow Mein which disappeared mysteriously when he was in charge of Hong Kong.
Running Honkers, a European Commissioner and now in charge of the BBC, what a glorious career he had enjoyed, Patten thought to himself. Gosh I have done well.
But as he smiled with contentment Patten was startled so see a grey figure appear next to him at the bedside. The grey figure did not look particularly happy.
“I say” said Patten, “what are you doing here my good fellow? Are you one of those consultant Johnnies we employ at the Beeb. Look I know that you are on £1,000 an hour but is it not time to call it a day?”
The grey figure said nothing but beckoned to Patten to rise. Used to doing exactly what the consultant Johnnies told him to do Patten obeyed and did not object as he grey figure gripped him firmly by the hand.
Suddenly the two men were flying through the air.
4175 days ago
TV presenter Stuart Hall admitted 14 counts of molesting girls as young as nine over three decades and today was sentenced to just 15 months in prison. This is at all levels a disgrace. The Judiciary and the BBC should be in the dock on this one.
It’s a Knockout star Hall initially denied the charges and accused the girls of lying. Only when the evidence became overwhelming did he fess up. Heaven knows how many other incidents involving the old peadophile took place but are as yet unknown as the victims have not come forward.
But for 14 serious sex crimes Hall has been sentenced to just 15 months. He will be out not long after Christmas if he behaves himself. Hall has used the “old man, I did not go all the way, I have done a lot of charity work” line and won. The whole episode brings shame on two institutions.
First is the BBC which gave Hall his own room to “entertain” young ladies and which effectively assisted with his crimes. There appears little remorse at the BBC and little effort made to find how if other senior staff helped Hall along the way or at least covered up his activities. Now why does that ring a bell? Who fixed it for Stuart?
Secondly there is the judicial system. The point of prison is a) to deter and b) to keep society safe and c) to punish. I am prepared to accept that Hall’s kiddy fiddling days are over and so b) is not an issue. But is the knowledge that you can engage in sex crimes with numerous kids and escape with just a few months inside really a deterrent? No. And is it a suitable punishment? Again, I doubt it.
I guess Hall played his joker and won. And the BBC and the judicial system really don’t give a damn.
