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One law for the wealthy

Wednesday, 30th July 2008

Sometimes I wonder what it is you have to do to be considered beyond the pale in this country. I've got Channel 4's coverage of Goodwood racing on in the background while I finish off my book, and who has just popped up as a presenter?

This woman.

Last year, Jodie Kidd was exposed for dealing in cocaine.

She should have been sent to prison. Instead, she's being paid by Channel 4 to front one of their biggest sports broadcasts of the year.

Then again, it seems it's not what you do that counts but how well off you are, as the fate of Eva Rausing and her husband shows:

A fabulously wealthy couple caught with a huge haul of cocaine, crack and heroin are to escape prosecution...Typically, addicts caught with such huge quantities of drugs will face a prison sentence. But at Westminster magistrates’ court yesterday, it was revealed that all charges are being dropped after a ‘protracted correspondence’ between their lawyers and the Crown Prosecution Service. Instead, they will each accept a ‘conditional caution’, which will probably involve them promising to attend drug misuse programmes. They will not even have criminal records, although the cautions will be recorded on police files.

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THX1138

July 30th, 2008 3:30pm

It has always been the same

This verse from White Lines that great Grandmaster Flash tune from back in the day

"A street kid gets arrested, gonna do some time
He got out three years from now just to commit more crime
A businessman is caught with 24 kilos
He’s out on bail and out of jail
And that’s the way it goes"

The businessman caught with 24 kilos was of course John DeLorean of the cars fame.

Dominic Marchmain, author of young-fogey.blogspot.com

July 30th, 2008 4:29pm

Well, one argument couldbe that there's no point locking up substantial wealth creators. . . especially when they really done anybody else any harm.

Dominic Marchmain, author of young-fogey.blogspot.com

July 30th, 2008 4:41pm

Goodness, I really should proof-read! That should say:

"Well, one argument could be that there's no point locking up substantial wealth creators. . . especially when they've really done nobody else any harm."

Brian Pol

July 30th, 2008 6:00pm

How do heirs create wealth then?

Ian C

July 30th, 2008 6:16pm

So nobody else got hurt did they clever clogs Dominic Marchmain?

http://www.letthechildrenlive.org/fmainframe.htm

Battery Boy

July 30th, 2008 7:10pm

"Well, one argument could be that there's no point locking up substantial wealth creators. . . especially when they've really done nobody else any harm."

Is this one of those, light blue touch paper and retire, kind of comments or are you seriously putting it forward?

TomTom

July 30th, 2008 8:51pm

But let us hope the USA will ban Mr Rausing from entering the USA - their embassy does know what was being smuggled into their territory in Grosvenor Square

Paul

July 30th, 2008 11:05pm

Mylene Klass last week. Jodie Kidd today. What is it with you and young female 'celebrities' Stephen? That there are people in this world who do well for no apparent reason is well-known. What puzzles me though is why you only seem to single out women. Far beyond Jodie Kidd, far beyond Mylene Klass, there are many who would be more worthy objects of your vilification.