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Archived Press Releases 2006 16th March 2006

Outrageous sentence for Jill Tito

(16th March 2006)

Judge Christopher Harding needs to think again if he thinks his 18-month sentence of Jill Tito sends a clear message about her parental responsibility, as he claims it does. She knowingly allowed her child to be abused by a man she was sexually involved with. What the hell is wrong with our society when the judge considers this to be a harsh sentence?

That child is scarred for life. Apparently that’s worth 18 months, having been reduced by six months because she pleaded guilty. Meanwhile Tito has been granted leave to apply to serve her slap-on-the-wrist sentence in the comfort of her own home.

This was an opportunity to send the clearest message of all: zero tolerance for child abuse. Instead, this "callous, unadulterated cruelty” was punished by a whittled-down sentence instead of the maximum of five years he could have gone for.

Your words are strong Judge Harding, but your actions are not.

Regards,
Christine Rankin
CEO For the Sake of Our Children Trust
Light One Life