Teacher arrested in UK on Thai warrant

[lindosfan1]

Briton Robert Hastings, 61, wanted by police over a number of alleged paedophile offences has been arrested at a school in north-east Thailand.
Hastings denied the accusations against him at a news conference at the Immigration Detention Centre in Bangkok.
'Why am I being arrested in England? And I'm happy to go back and find out. I know I have done nothing wrong,' he said.
The 61-year-old told police that he had arrived in Thailand in 2005 and has a Thai wife, the Bangkok Post reported.
He was employed by the school until at least next March, the newspaper added.
A spokesman for the British embassy in Bangkok confirmed the arrest and said consular officials were providing assistance.

[Big Boy]

I'm sorry Lindos, the report seems to contradict itself:

arrested at a school in north-east Thailand.

'Why am I being arrested in England?

Do you have a source?

[PeteC]

I read it yesterday. The warrants are from England based upon somethings he allegedly did years ago. I'll look for the article, I think BP. Pete

EDIT: Here it is: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/crime/4 ... hild-abuse

[Big Boy]

Thanks Pete, it makes more sense now.

[HHTel]

So much for diligent police checks from your home country!

[PeteC]

As terrible as what he may have done is, the statute of limitations must be less than 9 years for crimes such as this. I'm not sure a prosecutor can prosecute now even if he wanted to. Of course, I'm basing my thoughts on US law but would think the UK is similar. Pete

[Big Boy]

Possibly Pete, but what about all of the celebrities being nabbed for alleged crimes that they created a long time ago (Yewtree??).

[STEVE G]

As terrible as what he may have done is, the statute of limitations must be less than 9 years for crimes such as this. I'm not sure a prosecutor can prosecute now even if he wanted to. Of course, I'm basing my thoughts on US law but would think the UK is similar. Pete

Pete, the UK is unusual in having no statute of limitations on serious sexual offences, that's why you keep getting these sex scandals in the UK press around offences committed twenty or thirty years ago. Rolf Harris was jailed this year for a string of offences which started in the late sixties.

[PeteC]

I don't know. We need a law expert. The article doesn't have enough factual detail. I just recall reading recently that if for example you land a 747 with 100 tons of heroin in it, if they don't prosecute you within 5 years, they can't after that. Perhaps a crime with direct victims, and possibly considered a violent crime, has different rules concerning limitations. Pete

EDIT: There we go, Steve just answered it above.

EDIT#2: Just thinking about what's going on with Bill Cosby in the States. I read he can't be prosecuted for any of it if he indeed did it.

[STEVE G]

It's a contentious issue in the UK, on the one hand offenders shouldn't get away with something just because they've avoided the law for many years but on the other, you get cases going to court with absolutely no evidence and nothing but the word of the accuser. The above mentions several offences though so I perhaps the case is more likely to secure a conviction.

[europtimiste]

A bad joke by UK police !!! Everything is possible.........

[pdm3547]

As terrible as what he may have done is, the statute of limitations must be less than 9 years for crimes such as this. I'm not sure a prosecutor can prosecute now even if he wanted to. Of course, I'm basing my thoughts on US law but would think the UK is similar. Pete

The UK has no statute of limitations for sexual crimes: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limitation ... her_courts

[Takiap]

EDIT#2: Just thinking about what's going on with Bill Cosby in the States. I read he can't be prosecuted for any of it if he indeed did it.

On the last count, I think there are now 12 women claiming to have be raped by Cosby? I could very well be wrong, but most, if not all, would have an extremely hard time trying to convince me. These weren't young kids living in fear. They were grown up women who could easily have gone to the authorities. Maybe it's more a case of them feeling bitter because their fun times never led to anything more. Also, a lot of newspapers actually pay people for their saucy stories.


As has been said in this thread, a lot of men are being dragged before the courts despite there being no evidence at all. If I were Cosby, I would now be dragging some of these women into court since they have damaged his reputation and his income.

[oakdale160]

Re Cosby.
A Dr in the UK was accused of sexual actions by a patient which she alleged had occurred 20 years before--several other women, I think 4 or 5, then came forward with similar accusations. The original accuser then retracted her accusation saying that she did it as she was angry that drs made so much money and that she was angry as he had failed to remember her when they met in a shopping mall. . The other women then all refused to press charges. Net result--The Dr was ruined, both professionally and personally.

[Takiap]

Yes, while I have a great deal of sympathy for rape victims, I do also believe that it is all to easy for a bunch of women to destroy an innocent man's life through false accusations.


Personally, I think a number of priests have suffered the same fate, and maybe even M Jackson.


I was in a Catholic boarding school as a child, and with all the sex abuse scandals involving priests, I'm sure I could make allegations as well, and no doubt, others would come forward to "support" my claims. Obviously a few tabloids would also be willing to pay top dollar for my "exclusive" report.

The way I see it: If you get raped then go and report it, don't wait for 20 years.