The downside of celebrity

[Weeterrier]

Haven't a clue whether he is guilty or not, but I see that John Leslie is back in the news with another rape charge allegation.
I'm talking in general here, but it must be so easy for someone in the public eye to have their life ruined by something like this. Because, unless the crime is reported immediately, and an examination of the woman is done which shows physical trauma, it boils down to one person's word against the other person's. And even if the whole allegation is found to be spurious, the celebrity is tainted by it and the suspicion remains. This new rape allegation dates back to 1995.
If I were John Leslie, I'd have been giving casual sex a miss, so he is, at least, guilty of stupidity.

[Plocket]

I agree WeeT - it's all to easy to slur a character if they are in the public eye even a little bit.

I also think that rape is such a difficult crime to judge: it's all too easy for women to shout rape to get at someone or if they perhaps feel guilty for agreeing to have sex with someone, which makes it so much more difficult for a genuine rape victim to receive justice. And the penalties for rape are just stupid - a few months for destroying someone's life. And there is also the fine line of whether the sex actually occurred and whether both were willing parties but then one changed their mind.

As you say, John Leslie could well just be guilty of stupidity, and I hope that he receives a fair trial, if it even gets to that.

[prodigal gardener]

He'll be lucky! bet The Sun have him hung drawn and quartered by tomorrow morning

[Weeterrier]

If not today

[purplejulia]

Why has it taken so long for the woman to cry rape and how can you possibly prove it unless there is physical evidence? She is only doing an injustice to genuine rape victims.

[nightowl]

I wonder why she didn't jump on the bandwagon when he was in trouble all those years ago, when his career was wrecked

Must be almost impossible to prove either way now

And I absolutely agree with you Wee, that these silly bitches who squeal rape just because they've made a mistake and woken up with a ten-paper-bagger ;D, undermine the cases of those who have genuinely been traumatically raped!

[prodigal gardener]

I was attacked when I was much younger and prettier and although I was not raped I did report the attack. The coppers were not terribly interested and the attitude was not one of concern and sympathy, it was as if they didn't believe me and they were trying to catch me out. I gave up in the end and my then boyfriend, his brother, and a couple of mates gave the bloke (I knew him vaguely) a good hiding. I certainly wouldn't of waited 13 years before coming forward......is that the smell of pound notes floating through the air

[Weeterrier]

Don't take this the wrong way, KL, but by the look of your photo, you are still suitable for an attack. You are a very pretty woman.
Seriously though, poor you, you must have been frightened. I reckon it's money behind this allegation too, and he is now an easy target.

[MamIDdau]

As they say, mud sticks.

I don't think people should be "named and shamed" until they're actually found guilty.

I would also be tempted to give out the details of the person making false allegations but I guess they can't in case it stops others with genuine cases coming forwards. Unfortunately, money grabbing, erm, whores, have no regard for those who have genuinely been sexually assaulted and then find it hard to get people to believe them because there have been so many false accusations before.

[prodigal gardener]

I quite agree Apil, look at what happened to Matthew Kelly - now that was outrageous Its too easy for unscrupulous tarts to make allegations and make money on the back of it (so to speak !)

Thanks for your kind remarks WeeT, in the words of Kenny Chesney "I aint as good as I once was" It was scary at the time, but I was more angry than any thing else - how dare he presume he had the right to grab at me and paw me - the toe rag. Still he got his comeuppance in the form of a good shoeing (and a broken nose ;D)

[Shrubrose]

Happened to me once too KL. I was but a 'bairn' and told no-one. The memory lives on however!

[prodigal gardener]

Ahhh Shrub, horrible innit. Worse for you tho you dont have the satisfaction of knowing he got a hiding. Mind you what goes around comes around so you can dare bet he got his one way or another ;D I hope so

[Weeterrier]

That's really awful, that you both had to have that. Big cuddles from me. Hope the men involved have suffered from constipation and piles since then.

[prodigal gardener]

[nightowl]

I remember there was a spate of false accusations a few years back, in the universities, usually following drunken parties

There was pressure at the time to stop naming and shaming the accused because it caused many young men to drop out and ruin their lives, and a few even committed suicide due to the humiliation!

[carolann]

Shrub & KL it happened to me as well, I was late for work so took a short cut through our local park, I had seen the lad everyday but usually on the road, anyway he attacked me grabbed and fondled me, I pushed him off and ran out of the park, I told my work mate and we reported it to the Police and the following day I had to go through the park again with a Police woman following me, there where 2 Police cars and officers in the houses at the end of the park, when I saw him I just froze, next thing he had jumped down onto the train tracks trying to get away but the Police got him and gave him a bit of a beating then took him off to the Police station. I made a statment of what happened and he got fined £100 and that was that. I see him sometimes and I still shake, its something you never get over but learn to live with.

[nightowl]

Oo that's horrible that you still see him around Carol

Glad the police gave him a good thump too! They wouldn't get away with that now, and he would probably get £ 1000s in compensation

[prodigal gardener]

Blimey Carol thats rubbish for you. I am really not bothered anymore, I dont ever think about it, well untill recently! It does;t upset me tho - I just think he is a loser. A sad git that got what he deserved. ;D

[Weeterrier]

I am shocked to think this has happened to you too Carolann. And having to see him is just awful. I am lost for words.