Jottings
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From the bench
“I feel I have stepped into a parallel
universe.” The words of Judge David
Evans who found he was unable to
sentence four 17-year-olds found guilty
of stealing wallets and mobile phones
from two men and then posting pictures
of their loot on social media. The
teenagers, who were 16 at the time of the
muggings, had pled guilty, but three
days before they were due to be
sentenced at Exeter Crown Court last
month, three of the cases were referred
to the Home Office in London by the
Youth Offending Team. Why? Because
they were “potential victims of modern
slavery.”
“Ludicrous,” said the Judge after it was
reported that the suspects had told
police they felt under pressure to obey
their 18-year-old gang leader who has
been found guilty of robbery and an
unconnected assault. “What does this
mean?” Judge Evans asked. “That
teenagers who get involved by their own
free will now say they are modern
slaves?” He added that to describe the
boys as such would be “departing from
the normal use of the English language.”
PC Corner
A huge row has broken out because Sir
Bryan Thwaites, a distinguished scientist,
wanted to give £1 million (€1.17 million)
to two private schools to fund
scholarships for white boys from lower
income groups with poor qualifications.
He himself came from a poor
background but won scholarships to
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attend Dulwich College and Winchester,
both of which have rejected his offer
saying they could not accept cash
because it comes with, “religious or
ethnic criteria.”
Cambridge University, however, has
accepted an offer from rap artist
Stormzy to fund four scholarships for
black students, claiming they were pro-
black, not anti-white. He also claimed
this group was under represented at the
University and that the cash was aimed
at those who otherwise could not afford
to attend, so helping to break down
barriers.
Travel time
A collection of visitor reviews found on
the travel website Trip Advisor has