Failure in the system

At the University of Kent we are encourage to act as “critical” law students, and to be honest, nothing says “failure in the system” much more than the case of Robert Baker.

Baker has just been jailed for three years after robbing 80 year-old John Kelly of his bank card, credit card and cash at his home in Ashford in May 2008.

Now you may think there is nothing particularly unusual in that. However, Baker is a man described as having “a personality disorder with psychotic episodes”, and should really have been helped by the system.

Especially when, in February 2008, he completed a three-year jail term for manslaughter.

Judge Joy sentenced 29 year-old Baker but claimed that he did not pose a significant threat to the public.

I’m sure, however, that with the right help from those who can help him, he wouldn’t even pose a vague threat to the public.