Homeowner jailed for 30 months for fighting off burglars

[Gromit]

A businessman who fought off knife-wielding thugs who were threatening to kill his family has been jailed for 30 months, while his attackers avoided a jail sentence.

He and his wife and three children returned home to find three intruders, wearing balaclavas, in their home.

The family members’ hands were tied behind their backs and they were forced to crawl from room to room. He was told that he would be killed, but made his escape after throwing a coffee table and enlisted his brother in chasing the offenders down the street in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, bringing one of them to the ground.

What followed was described in Reading Crown Court as self-defence that went too far, leaving intruder Walid Salem with a permanent brain injury.

Salem, who has a string of 50 past convictions, was given a two-year supervision order at a court hearing in September this year. He is currently in custody awaiting trial for an alleged credit card fraud.

But the brothers, described as family men at the heart of the local community, were found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent after a trial earlier this year.

Your comments please.

[R1Geezer]

As usual the pro crime lefties focus on the "self defence" being OTT, yes it is under the curent law. The current law is wrong. robbing theiving scum should foreit their rights when they commit a crime, especially when it invades another's home, a virtual rape. This pond life scum got what they deserved and probably didn't expect immediate retribution when they were abusing the guy's family. I would have done the same. Jake tell me hand on heart that you would not have also given the curcumstances.

[Oneeyedvic]

Sqad - there is a massive difference between "Fight of FLight" which I agree is a natural act, and what you are calling for which is retribution. http://en.wikipedia.o...i/Retributive_justice - and you will note that this case is not in proportionate (which is why he was sentenced accodingly).

ummm - no I am not a robot. Personally, I don't think it is big or clever to admit assault or 'wish' for it to happen. Yes, things can happen, but I feel ashamed if I have to resort to physical violence (and would say that I haven't since I was a teenager). Sadly, society thinks it acceptable to say things like "I would of done worse" or similar.

[Sqad]

oneyed...

I used the word "retribution" in the common meaning, NOT the legal meaning.

the dispensing or receiving of reward or punishment especially in the hereafter
: something given or exacted in recompense; especially : punishment

[Sqad]

oneeyed.

/////Salem, who has a string of 50 past convictions, was given a two-year supervision order at a court hearing in September this year. He is currently in custody awaiting trial for an alleged credit card fraud. /////

Any explanation for the above?

[ummmm]

You live in a different world to me then.

Someone attempted to rape me once. He got into my house after me coming home from a night out. Not only did I fight him but I ran after him down the street. There is a man walking round this town with an X on his head and God help him if I, my friends or any of my family bump into him again.

[Quinlad]

I do think sentences for burglary are too lenient. And the violation of your home must be harrowing.

Stoving someone's head in with a cricket bat is ridiculous though. And actually, it says a lot about modern consumerism that we're even having this conversation. We sit drooling in front of adverts for DFS, Comet, Apple, PC World etc - in thrall to all this shiny merchandise - to such an extent that when someone tries to unlawfully take it from us, we think it's acceptable to batter their skull against the pavement with a bit of wood. Yes, 'virtual rape'. How f*cking glib.

The self-defence/family protection argument falls apart slightly once you've gone and got your brother and some weapons and chased the culprit halfway down the road. Really, you've just seen the red mist because someone has tried to take your precious things.

[R1Geezer]

we feel so angry quinny, not for the chattells but for the invasion of personal space, the disregard for the feelings of the victim for what must be a minor gain for the thief. I'd rather give them my stuff than have them break in and violate my house to steal it. That's the real point. the law is an ass on this.

[LoftyLottie]

Physical violence that was obviously in the heat of the moment but it went far, far over the top. As such as think the jail sentences are right. Not too long, but enough to show us that we can't just take the law into our our own hands.

[Oneeyedvic]

squad - /// Any explanation for the above? //// - no, I too think it is too lenient. But, that does not give me the right to give out my own justice.

ummm- yes, I probably do live in a different world to you. I wonder how little you think of your own family that you would be happy to put your children without a mother to exact revenge.

And before you say that I do not know what it is like, my wife was raped (before I met her) and I do know the person who committed the offence. She never reported it and he will never be served justice. I choose not to let it effect me. Seems a shame to be full of so much anger.

[LoftyLottie]

I do agree with Vibra though. Salem should also have been jailed.

[ummmm]

I'm not full of anger. It's done and dusted. I just know that if I ever bump into him again I will attack him. Not just because of what happened that night but because of what he done to me mentally. Because I struggled to leave the house after, because I became scared of the dark, because I get scared if someone walks close to me, even in day light...the list goes on.....

ummm- yes, I probably do live in a different world to you. I wonder how little you think of your own family that you would be happy to put your children without a mother to exact revenge.

I would never put my children without a mother....I would get a family member to sort it. In the manner that he done to me. No witnesses...!!!

I'm sorry your wife was raped...you wasn't though.

[LoftyLottie]

Thankfully, ummmm, I can't imagine anyone in my family going out to 'sort it out'. I must live in the same world as OEV. I can understand violence as an immediate reaction, but not premeditated or for revenge.

[Booldawg]

Just to throw a different angle on it; What would happen if someone broke into a house and got attacked by a family dog? Would the burglar be able to sue?

[Oneeyedvic]

///I would never put my children without a mother....I would get a family member to sort it. In the manner that he done to me. No witnesses...!!! ///

So now you would put another member of your family involved - luckily there would be no way he could get caught... dna etc

Sorry, but if you really are suggesting that you would happily get another member of your family to murder somebody, then not only are you carrying a heck of a lot of anger, but you really need counselling.

[Oneeyedvic]

///Just to throw a different angle on it; What would happen if someone broke into a house and got attacked by a family dog? Would the burglar be able to sue? ///

I do not believe so - you are allowed to use 'reasonable force' to defend yourself / property - and a dog would (in my opinion) be classed in the same vein.

[ummmm]

Who mentioned murder???

Give them a slap was what is in my mind. Not beat them to an inch of their life...

Sigh...you people....

[Oneeyedvic]

Sorry, i'm lost.

What do you mean exactly? What d you want to do to this person? Beat them up? Leave them with brain injuries? Kill them?

[ummmm]

Stay lost

[LoftyLottie]

Still can't imagine anyone in my family or any of my friends doing that ummmm. Sorry, but I am rather pleased that they wouldn't. It's not the sort of 'justice' we believe in.