Paedophile gets six months for indecent assault of young girls

[Brian Ellis]

6 months? 6 years would have been too little.

Paedophile gets six months for indecent assault of young girls
By Alexia Saouli

Man admits to thirteen charges of abusing 10 and 14 year old students over a four year period

A 52-YEAR-OLD violin teacher was sentenced to six months imprisonment after he was found guilty of indecently assaulting two minors.

The defendant pleaded guilty to 13 charges of indecent assault involving two girls aged 10 and 14.

Twelve of the 13 charges involved the 10-year-old child.

According to reports the incidences occurred between the months of September 2002 and June 2006 when the girls used to take violin lessons at the defendant’s home.

The court heard how the 52-year-old used to force the 10-year-old to sit on his lap. He would then stroke her on the genitals, breasts and other parts of her body over her clothes. He also kissed her on the mouth and cheeks against her will, the court was told.

The 14-year-old said she had been forced to sit on his lap when he kissed her on the cheeks and mouth in December 2002. She reported the incident to police in March 2007.

The younger girl’s mother reported the abuse after she found a note written in her daughter’s hand in 2006 describing what she’d endured.

During sentencing Nicosia district judge Stavros Stavrou said: “The crimes committed by the defendant are very serious… In cases involving sex crimes deterrent sentences must be imposed due to the particular seriousness of the crimes, which not only go against natural morals but also damage the victim’s individuality, esteem and vulnerable internal world. They are particularly severe when they are committed against minors.”

The judge added: “The victims’ young age, which as a rule is accompanied by innocence, immaturity, sensitivity, curiosity and ignorance that as a whole lead to a lack of sound judgment and which a defendant abuses to satisfy his own unnatural urges, either sexual or other, is another factor that provokes disgust and repugnance.”
The court ruled that the defendant had taken advantage of his position as the girls’ teacher in “the most unacceptable way” and had abused the trust that had obviously developed between them based on this position of authority.

Based on the evidence, the court sentenced the defendant to six months imprisonment effective immediately.

During the plea for clemency, the 52-year-old’s lawyer argued that his client was a good family man with two children. He said the defendant was well respected in his community and had given up teaching music. The lawyer also said the case had had a negative impact on the 52-year-old’s life as he couldn’t’ sleep at nights and his life had become a living hell.

[Brian Ellis]

And just 2 months for dreaming about similar offences.

Man jailed for possessing child pornography images
By Alexia Saoulli

A 33-YEAR-OLD Nicosia man has been jailed for two months after he was found guilty of possession of child pornography.

It was the first time a suspect has been convicted for such an offense, reports said.

The man was charged after being found with 38 pictures of child porn on his laptop.

The photos were located by Prevention and Investigation of Electronic Crime Bureau investigators on the computer’s hard drive under the file, ‘hot images’.

The images depicted, among other things, adults performing sexual acts with children as young as three or four.

The man was found guilty despite repeated efforts to plead ignorance regarding the existence of child porn on his personal computer.

During sentencing, Nicosia district judge Olga Loizou said: “The defendant is not a person who respects the truth”. She was referring to the 33-year-old’s earlier court testimony professing his innocence.

By law, possession of child pornography carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years imprisonment. The crime is the equivalent to the sexual exploitation of a minor, reports said.

“Due to the seriousness of the offenses as well as an increase in their frequency, the courts must effectively implement the law and impose deterrent sentences,” Loizou said during sentencing on Monday.

The judge also based her decision on a Supreme Court ruling in which restrictive sentences were deemed necessary on the grounds that the law as well as the Treaty on Cyber Crime has a role to play in stamping out the sexual exploitation of minors.

“The spread of child pornography is elevated, thanks particularly to the ease with which computer users maintain their anonymity without being easily traced. Children must be protected and not treated as objects of pleasure,” she said.

[cjolley]

Two great speeches about the seriousness of the crime and the need for harsh sentences that will create deterrence.
And then two laughably short actual sentences.
What gives? Is this a Cyprus thing?

[Dr Mordrid]

Those would get you at least 2 years here as a first offender. If a repeater look at 5-25 years, possibly life for high level molesters.

[cjolley]

And be on the sex registry, which limits their housing options among other things, pretty much for life.

[Brian Ellis]

Two great speeches about the seriousness of the crime and the need for harsh sentences that will create deterrence.
And then two laughably short actual sentences.
What gives? Is this a Cyprus thing?

I don't think so. Paedophilia is a fairly rare crime here, thank God, but I seem to remember others getting harsher sentences for acts. The possession of images has only recently entered on the statute books, and I think that was the very first case, so there is no yardstick.

I consider the first case to be particularly vile, despite that his touching was through the girls' clothes, because he was in a position of trust as a teacher.

Certainly, 6 months is hardly a deterrent, but I would think it appropriate only if they chopped bis balls off, as well. THAT may be a deterrent, if hardly PC.

[Dr Mordrid]

....I would think it appropriate only if they chopped bis balls off, as well. THAT may be a deterrent, if hardly PC.

There may be hope for you yet