British Teenage Girl Fined for Kicking Attacker While Down

[Crazed Rabbit]

http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/ed...ack.6775245.jp

A TERRIFIED teenage girl has been fined £500 for knocking unconscious a masked stranger who stalked her home from a nightclub in what lawyers have called an "exceptional" case.
Claire Burleigh, 19, was pounced on by Sean Docherty, 43, as she was about to open the door of her Bathgate home, Livingston Sheriff Court heard yesterday.

Docherty had earlier been thrown out of the nightclub following a drunken argument.
...

Although Docherty, who had downed at least nine pints of beer, was the initial aggressor, his client had ended up being charged, Mr Jackson said.

After Docherty was thrown out of the Bathgate nightclub he returned at 2am to wait for Burleigh to leave, then followed her and her boyfriend home.

Prosecutor Sarah O'Gallagher said Docherty admitted being the initial aggressor. But she added: "Neighbours saw the accused being extremely violent and kicking the complainer as he lay on the ground.

"Witnesses spoke about the complainer lying motionless and appearing unconscious."
...
He told the court: "It might be suggested that this was a nightmare scenario for a young girl going home. He made no comment and there was no confrontation - it was a physical attack on her.

"She turned round and found that there was a man wearing a black balaclava attacking her.

"She was terrified. She lost control and her anger and fear took over."

Sheriff Donald Muirhead told Burleigh she was entitled to hit Docherty to protect herself. But he added: "You lost control. You kept on kicking him when there was no longer any need. In all the circumstances, it seems to me that I can deal with the matter by way of a financial penalty."

No charges were brought against Docherty.

Disgusting. Apparently the rules of old fashioned boxing apply when a stalker attacks late at night; you can't attack them once they fall down - you have to let them rest and recover before getting up and attacking you again. Oh just don't resist; that must be the civilized way.

There are times when I despair over what a wreck my country has become with regard to civil liberties. Then I see something like this - and realize it could indeed be worse.

The final lovely touch is the attacker not even being charged. I guess when British criminals get hurt, they become the victims, like their criminal victimizing of their target is a legitimate social interaction, and when the victim resists they're the ones breaking the law.

CR