BRAIN HAINES FROM READING ESCAPES JUSTICE IN OXFORD COURT CASES

In a series of troubling judicial decisions at Oxford Crown Court, Brian Haines, a man from Reading, was handed a surprisingly lenient sentence despite admitting to serious sexual offenses involving a young girl.

Haines, aged 71, appeared before Judge Julian Hall after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 13. The court heard that Haines had been convicted of molesting an 11-year-old girl he was babysitting, a case that has left the victim and her family devastated. The young girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is now suffering from emotional trauma, feeling too frightened to leave her home, and in need of ongoing counseling.

Despite the gravity of the allegations, Judge Hall decided not to impose a custodial sentence on Haines. Instead, he was given a three-year supervision order, placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for five years, and was banned for life from working with children under 16. This decision has sparked outrage among the victim’s family and the local community, who believe that justice has not been served.

The victim’s father expressed his anger publicly, stating, “He should have got a couple of years in prison, and life on the sex offender register. The judge is supposed to be there to protect the innocent and punish the guilty.” The girl’s mother echoed these sentiments, criticizing the court’s leniency and warning that such decisions send a dangerous message that offenders can escape proper punishment.

Adding to the controversy, earlier on the same day, Judge Hall presided over another case involving Keith Fenn, a 24-year-old from Oxford who admitted to raping a 10-year-old girl twice. Fenn received a two-year prison sentence instead of the five years recommended by prosecutors. Judge Hall justified the reduced sentence by citing the victim’s appearance—wearing a frilly bra, thong, and makeup—that made her look older, which he claimed influenced his decision. Due to time already served on remand, Fenn is expected to be released in a matter of months.

Following these cases, Judge Hall was unexpectedly removed from another paedophile trial scheduled in Oxford, just fifteen minutes before it was due to commence. The court’s management explained that the change was a “listings matter” related to Judge Hall’s upcoming holiday, but the timing has raised questions about the consistency and appropriateness of judicial decisions in such sensitive cases.