Ben has writer's block!
It happens sometimes, but there should be a blog post appearing over Easter. Ed.
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Ben
Lecturing
About Me
- prisonerben
- United Kingdom
- Previously known as "one of Britain's best known prisoners...he constantly questions authority and exposes the futility of the system" The Times, Ben was finally released from prison after 32 years in August 2012. Pleading guilty to the murder of a friend when he was 14 years old, he renounced violence and fought for the recognition of the inherent dignity of all human beings. As a result of speaking truth to power, he served far longer than the recommended 10 years, leading Education Secretary Michael Gove to argue that he had "been punished excessively for a crime committed as a child". One of the more intellectual of prisoner-campaigners, Ben chose to educate himself from schoolboy level to having both undergraduate and post graduate degrees. He is currently one of very few prisoners in Britain ever to attempt a Doctorate. Ben's speciality is non-violent action and the Human Needs Theory. Now on Life Licence, He is forging a career as a CJ policy consultant, writer and - as ever - campaigner.
That's 'cos the novelty of twitter hasn't worn off yet.
ReplyDeleteYeah, its just that simple..... Doh!
DeleteStrange....... Still manages to enthral the twitterati with innumerable chunks of self-serving drivel on a daily basis, all 140 characters or less of course!
ReplyDeleteCome on Ben, dig deep and play up; there must be something of relevance to post.. Or maybe this particular blog has finally reached the end of the line. No longer Prisoner Ben, now transformed into something more like Ben ex-prisoner and twitterphile.. Oh well, suppose it was moderately interesting whilst it lasted, then again so are most other soap operas........
You're back! I've been missing your bilious spite, it so enlivened my day that I needle you so!
DeleteI have been feeling really neglected of late - please don't desert us Ben.
ReplyDeleteLol, chin up Mary... Let him fly free in his lofty new heights, let him soar in the azure skies and thermal updrafts of pseudo- intellectualism of the land of twitter.
DeleteThat's 140 characters !!
I'm not a twitter-person myself.... But, Ben has been at the beck and call of others for the last thirty-nine years. And I, for one, don't begrudge him the freedom (to roam) he deserves.
ReplyDelete*32 years
DeleteI've just discovered you whilst searching for.. well anything that might be of use to either myself or my friend on the inside and have found it/you to be the most helpful and informative of anything I've looked at. He rang me this morning and I was able to them on. Many thanks.
ReplyDeleteBen, what do you think of Mick Philpot's sentence? very leniant i say, i know people doing more time for killing one person, but this is 6 poor kids. Should have been life x 6. THe other 2 got off lightly i thought too.
ReplyDeletePhilpot was sentenced to life and told he can't *apply* for parole until 15 years has past. Applying for, and being *granted* it - are two very different things.
DeleteTaking into consideration his previous sentence for violence (as well as his age) and I think he'll be extremely lucky/old - if indeed, he's ever released.
You must bear in mind that Philpot didn't intend to kill his kids, or even cause them serious harm. If reports are correct and his intent was to create a dangerous situation from which he could save them and look a hero, then that is squarely within the realms of Manslaughter and not murder.
DeleteThe outcome remains the same, six dead children. ut it is important, legally and morally, to take great account of intent. And, horrible though the outcome was, the intent to harm wasn't there. The sentence reflects that, rightly.
It does raise the profound and difficult question - what is the value, the worth, of human life? I've spoken about this before, and without conclusion. It is a difficult one. Too difficult for me.
I'd say he hasn't a hope in hell of getting out on tariff, when he is first eligible to apply for parole. The issues his lifestyle raises include sex, attitudes to woman, attitudes to violence, and ability to do consequential thinking. All of these will be addressed through Offending Behaviour Courses and some of these have a waiting list of several years. Along the way, the completion of one course may raise issues that leads to further work being recommended.
I doubt we will see him around any time soon.
Thanks Ben, I agree, it was manslaughter, and not murder, but nevertheless, even if he doesn't get out, ever, the other 2 still got off lightly. She will be out in 7/8 years.
ReplyDelete