A Sandown woman who continued contact with a child, despite being issued with a child abduction warning notice, has been handed an 18-month community order.
Ruby Owen, 26, of Fitzroy Street, appeared before the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court on Tuesday ready for sentencing after her first hearing on 29th November was adjourned to allow a pre-sentence report to be compiled.
At that hearing, Owen entered guilty pleas for 4 counts of detaining a child so as to keep him/her from a person having lawful control, contrary to the Child Abduction Act 1984.
The court heard that on 14th October this year, Owen was issued with a Child Abduction Warning Notice (CAWN) as a result of a child she had contact with being regarded as at risk. In recent years CAWNs have become a valuable tool in the fight against Child Sexual Exploitation and Child Criminal Exploitation.
Ann Smout, prosecuting, told the court that on 14th November a girl – who cannot be named for legal reasons – left her home and was told by her mother to return by 22:00 that night. However, she didn’t return home and was reported missing to Police shortly after.
Officers went to Owen’s address and found the child in the kitchen at her Fitzroy Street property.
The 25-year-old was interviewed by Police and admitted that she and the child had seen each other on 3 more occasions between 24th October and 11th November. Text messages and photos on Owen’s phone confirmed this, with 1 of the texts saying ‘make me a joint while you wait’.
Owen has a previous conviction for battery but nothing else of a like nature.
At this 2nd hearing, defence solicitor Barry Arnett said that Owen had made a mistake in befriending the girl and that the difficulties the girl was facing at home may have not been as serious as Owen had first thought they were.
Owen was sentenced to an 18-month community order with 30 rehabilitation days attached. She was also fined £120, ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £114.
so, it begs the question – if this had been a man, he would be in a jail cell, branded a nonce by now. Disgusting light treatment of a female again.
If she was the opposite sex…
Another shockingly lenient sentence handed down by our courts.
This beggars belief, as the child is obviously vulnerable and impressionable. What 13 year old isn’t?
There shouldn’t be any second chances in cases like these. Heaven knows what may have happened if this hadn’t been discovered when it was.
Gaol the bitch.
That’s a bit harsh. I’m sure the community order will serve it’s purpose and prevent reoffending.
Yes, they are so effective and we never see any breaches of community orders, they work perfectly.