NICOLA Sturgeon was inundated with letters condemning the Scottish justice system following the controversial sentencing of dental student Christopher Daniel.
The First Minister and Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf received scores of emails after the 18-year-old was found guilty of sexually assaulting a six-year-old young girl – but allowed to walk free.
The case sparked outrage after Daniel, from Glasgow, was given an “absolute discharge”, meaning he has no criminal conviction and will not appear on the sex offenders register.
Now a Freedom of Information request has revealed the scale of public outcry, with Ms Sturgeon’s Government receiving 91 letters criticising the decision, despite ministers having no role in court sentencing.
Some were from survivors of sexual abuse, who spoke of the lasting impact the assaults had on their lives. Meanwhile, dentists said the outcome risked damaging their profession.
Scottish Tory shadow justice secretary Liam Kerr MSP, who uncovered the letters, said: “Nicola Sturgeon can no longer be in any doubt as to the anger caused by her and her party’s soft-touch approach to justice.
“Her government has received dozens of letters from furious Scots who were rightly appalled by a convicted child abuser walking free from court with no punishment whatsoever.
“These letters rightly point out the dangerous message this sends, and that it once again reinforces the belief that our justice system does not do enough to support victims.
“There are also totally justified concerns about the access Christopher Daniel will have to vulnerable children and adults should he enter the dentistry profession.
“This case was absolutely devastating for the family of the victim, and is undoubtedly causing damage to the reputation of our justice system.
“That’s why we need to see the test for undue leniency reviewed so we can appeal against ludicrous sentences such as this if they are handed out in future.”
Daniel, who was 15-17 at the time, was found guilty of carrying out the assaults when the girl was between six and eight.
Sheriff Gerard Sinclair said the dental student was “noticeably immature and socially awkward”.
He argued any conviction risked damaging his career prospects, adding: “It was fortunate that the complainer appeared to have suffered no injury or long lasting effects.”
Dozens of Scots wrote to the Government to express their outrage at the decision.
One said: “The fact this paedophile isn’t facing any legal action is a disgrace to our judicial system.
"How can we expect women in today’s society to speak out to protect further cases of molesting and rape even if when proven guilty, culprits leave the courts with no consequences?”
Another wrote: “In a time when, as a society and across the western world, we as a people are learning to speak up about the hidden abuse that has been prolific over the years this is a blow to the confidence of victims that justice will prevail.”
One sexual abuse survivor said the issue had “really touch[ed] home and come extremely close to my heart”.
She said: “I was sexually molested for years as a young girl…. And guess what?! The person who made my life hell never touched a foot in prison.”
Another survivor said: “I was sexually abused at a similar age and my teenage abuser also got away with it and I can guarantee it DOES have a lasting impact.”
A dentist told Mr Yousaf that Daniel would be a “disgrace” to the profession if he was allowed to continue his studies, adding: “This young man has no right to enter a caring profession where he would be allowed extensive access to children and vulnerable adults with little or no supervision.”
Elsewhere, a clinical psychologist and psychotherapist insisted the impact of child sexual abuse is devastating.
Several correspondents also raised concerns Daniel had been treated leniently because he is a privileged and well-educated “middle-class white man”.
One said: “I’d get more punishment if I failed to pay a parking ticket.”
The Scottish Government has been approached for comment.
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