Everyday Victim Blaming

challenging institutional disbelief around domestic & sexual violence and abuse

What are the acceptable excuses for child rape – the case of Luke Grender

Luke Grender is an 18 year old who has admitted to raping a girl under the age of 13 three times. Grender was 16 - 17 at the time of the crime. He was given a suspended sentence by Judge Philip Richards at Newport Crown Court due to the "exceptional circumstance ... (of) ...heartbreak" experienced by his family.

In 2011, Grender's sister Nikitta, who was 8 months pregnant at the time, was raped and murdered. The perpetrator, Carl Whant, then burnt down her house. Whant, rightly, received a 35 year sentence for his crime.

There are numerous difficult questions that arise out this case - many of which we fail to answer appropriately and frequently fail to ask:

  • Is trauma an acceptable reason to give a young man a suspended sentence for child rape?
  • Why do we assume there is a link between trauma in childhood and the potential to become a sexual offender?
  • Are we doing enough in preventative support for children who experience trauma?
  • At what point do we hold people who have experienced trauma accountable for their actions?
  • Why is the excuse trauma used mostly in conjunction with male perpetrators?
  • What about the trauma experienced by the victim of child rape?

Many of the questions that arise from this case are similar to those used by supporters of Roman Polanski who suggest that his experiences as a Holocaust survivor and as the widow of Sharon Tate, who was murdered whilst 8 months pregnant, means that he is less culpable for the crime of child rape. If this were true, we would see an increase in sexually predatory behaviour in all people who survived the Holocaust - whether they be Jewish, Roma, Sinti or Soviet POWs. The simple fact is that there is no direct correlation between trauma and sexually predatory behaviour. If there was, we would see a surge in the number of women who sexually abuse children since girls make up the majority of victims of child sexual abuse. Sexual abuse remains a crime perpetrated mostly by men against women and children. It is a myth to suggest that most of these men experienced child sexual abuse and were replicating patterns of behaviour learned in childhood.

It is also clear from media coverage that trauma is only considered a mitigating factor in conjunction with certain perpetrators. The mother of the child known as Baby Peter experienced systemic sexual abuse and rape whilst in the care of the local authority as a child. Never once did the media refer to this trauma as a contributory factor in her perpetration of the fatal abuse of her son Peter. The two boys found guilty of the murder of James Bulger also had extremely traumatic childhoods - at least one of whom was a victim a child sexual abuse. At no point has the British media ever suggested these two boys were also victims deserving of a second chance (although the judicial process did recognise this).

It is absolutely essential to recognise trauma in childhood when dealing with young perpetrators, but we also need to be clear that trauma is not an excuse for illegal behaviour. A two year suspended sentence and signing the sexual offenders registry for 10 years without any other form of intervention does not speak to the seriousness of the crime or represent an adequate attempt to ensure that Grender does not continue to perpetrate sexual crimes against a child.

 

UPDATE:  This case was referred to the Attorney General's Office as unduly lenient. The three judge panel has now sentenced Grender to three years in a juvenile detention facility.

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One thought on “What are the acceptable excuses for child rape – the case of Luke Grender

  • lynda says:

    I would like to comment on this because abuse, rape, sexual, physical and emotional abuse is all about power and control over another. All of us make choices in our lives whether their good or bad and we have to live with these even if they are the wrong choices. Their our a lot of people who go through trauma horrific trauma who don’t abuse people especially children. In this case though the young man’s sister was raped and murder by her partner this does not make a rapist that’s a choice the perpetrator’s choice to abuse a child. It’s about his choice he knows fully well right or wrong we all have to take accountability for any type of bad behaviour we show or hurt others. This young man knew what he was doing was wrong. the judge should not have taken that in account because of what happened to his sister because of her being murdered to sentence him with a suspended sentence. This young man not only abused the young girl 13 times but he probably groomed her too and the fear and trauma this young victim will have to carry through her whole life and what she went through is an injustice to her, how brave she was to confront him in a court of law. To me this sounds very calculating but the judge blaming his behaviour because his sister was murdered is wrong because this young man will go on and think this type of crime is ok. Till courts understand the effect of childhood abuse/rape as well as domestic violence and co-ercive control which is more to do with power and control over another. Not thinking about the victims feelings abusers hurt and want to humiliate, blame, make the victim feel guilty, dirty and ashamed courts will still take leniency on the perpetrators and blame the victims and give lighter sentences. Why was not the family who lost their daughter given emotional support at the time and trauma therapy. We do not deal well in this country of understanding how trauma can affect a child’s mind and all the difficulties associated around this in education home life, emotional wellbeing but also relationships and attachment in very early childhood. Personally I disagree with the judge I think this young man should have gone to prison because I don’t think his back ground should be part of the sentencing process or what happened to his sister. Yes if he has a health problem then maybe this should be discussed but anything else I disagree with because abuse is more about the perpetrator not only grooming but calculating when the child will be alone to abuse. My heart goes out to this young victim i hope that she gets so much support in therapy, talking about what happened and to know that she is amazing to come forward and go through a trial. Your an inspiration and so brave and courageous well done. Please remember it was not your fault but the perpetrators your wonderful, beautiful I send my love hugs to you take care. I hope that you will go on and do amazing things with your life take care.