Tag Archives: natasha reid

Tim Leunig writes: Riots, Justice and Reconciliation

Natasha Reid, a 24 year old graduate, was in McDonalds in Enfield on Sunday night. She noticed that Comet was being looted, and went in and helped herself to a £270 television. There is no suggestion that she caused any damage, or was violent in any way. She realised that what she had done was wrong, and handed herself in to the police.

She has been found guilty, and will be sentenced on 1 September. District judge Elizabeth Roscoe told her that her remorse would ‘very much go in your favour’ but warned that she could still face prison because of the ‘serious nature’ of the case.

That would not be appropriate. What Natasha Reid did was wrong, but, bluntly, since she got home with the television, and does not appear to have been caught on camera, she could probably have got away with it. She chose to confess, a remarkably brave thing to do given that sentencing was likely to be harsh.

Posted in Op-eds | Also tagged and | 67 Comments
Advert

Recent Comments

  • Simon R
    Thanks Mark. I'll try and make a few enquiries locally. Back to the geeky level, I'm still puzzled how a mixed district/constituency system can work. You'd t...
  • Mick Taylor
    I am very conflicted by this bill. I believe strongly in the right of self determination, but I do worry about unscrupulous people using the right to die for th...
  • Peter Martin
    @ John Hills, "Norway channelled profits from their oil into the Government Pension Fund Global— apparently the largest sovereign wealth fund in the w...
  • Tristan Ward
    Britain's failure to establish a sovereign wealth fund for the proceeds of north sea oil and gas possibly the worst decision taken by government in my lifetime....
  • John Hills
    Very interesting and made me think about the contrasts with Norway where their citizens do seem to more directly benefit from their oil reserves. Norway channe...