‘No justice’ - punched in broad daylight, but attacker was let off with caution

Last week the Courier and Weekly News reported that Jodie Wiltshire, who lives in Leamington but works in Kenilworth, was leaving Ardens Cafe in Talisman Square on Friday May 4 when she was hit by a young woman.

Since the article, a 26-year-old woman from outside Warwickshire was interviewed about the incident and, following an admission of guilt, was issued with a formal police caution.

Ms Wiltshire said: “I am really unhappy and distressed with how the police came to the decision just to caution her because she ‘seemed apologetic’. She was not apologetic to me, quite the contrary when I told her I was calling the police she did not care at all and just laughed at me.

“This was a particularly violent punch as other witness statements revealed and I wonder if the police would have been quite so lenient if it had been a man that punched me.

“They had lots of evidence that revealed the violent nature of the attack and I have suffered all week because of this attack with headaches and feeling sick and it has made me feel very depressed. I think it does make you think twice in reporting a crime because of all the stress involved and the sad fact that the police might not take it that seriously. I know that police resources are tight but surely somebody should receive more than a caution if they punched a stranger in the street.

“This seems to give out the message that it is acceptable to punch people in an already increasingly aggressive society because of the slim possibility that they might actually be punished.”

Sgt David Kettle, who leads the Kenilworth team, said the decision to issue a caution is based on a number of factors, and is set out in national policy, and is not one which is taken lightly. He added: “Factors considered include the facts of the offence and any background information, a full and frank admission from the offender and the previous background of the offender.

“Resourcing levels in no way influenced this decision, and with straightforward cases such as this one there is no more work involved in cautioning someone other than charging them to court. I empathise with the victim of this incident, and can understand her frustration with the outcome.

“A caution should not be seen as getting away with it though, it will be formally recorded and can affect certain career decisions and can also restrict travel to certain countries. It also means that should she offend again a caution won’t be considered.”