Child abuser deserves a much tougher sentence

PAEDOPHILE Terry Bishop has admitted to raping and sexually assaulting a
five-year-old girl four times and he already has three prior convictions for
child sex crimes.

In a just world he would never see the light of day again but a soft
judge has sentenced him to just 10 years in jail. If he avoids trouble,
he could be out in only six-and-a-half years.

Judge John Harrow should take a moment to imagine how he would feel if
it was his own daughter or granddaughter who fell victim to such a
despicable crime.

In six-and-a-half years the suffering for that poor girl will still be
far from over for she will be living with a life sentence.

Many children who suffer such heinous abuse never fully recover.
Moreover one has to feel desperate sympathy for her loved ones. Such a
terrible event is a parent’s worst nightmare.

For her mother the fact that Bishop befriended her in order to gain
access to the child will have made it even harder to bear. His actions
will take an enormous toll on the whole of the victim’s family,
something that should have been reflected in his sentence.

Bishop is a repeat offender whose latest crimes were a series of cold,
cunning and calculated acts of abuse. The thought that in all
likelihood he will be walking the streets again in less than a decade
is a chilling one.