Students go down for Ł8 :: Wessex Scene Online

Students go down for Ł8

15th May 2002

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Mar 02 - Halls of residence security problems - do the university actually care??
Mar 02 - CAMPUS CRIME CAPERS
Oct 02 - Double or Quits- Halls Accomodation Crisis
Oct 02 - Wessex Lane:Business Services Reply..
Oct 06 - Students seeking safety

First year students Philip Gatrell and Ricky Martin were forced to swallow an 8 month sentence for stealing Ł8 from three other unsuspecting students. The two friends, one from Highfield Halls and the other from Ordurman Road, were arrested and convicted last week of 2 counts of robbery and 1 of attempted robbery. Both pleaded guilty to the charges.

Their victims were fellow students at the University. Daniel Wheatcroft, a physics student, Ian Long, and Engineer and John Anderson, a history student, were followed by Gatrell and Martin for about half an hour and then were robbed.

To make matters worse Martin also pretended he had a knife. According to Liz Gunther, defending, this was a moment of “twisted logic” on his part, as he felt that less violence would ensue as a result.

Judge Jeremy Burford QC presided over the case. He rejected a recommendation of a community punishment order and the students were sent to a young offenders’ institution for eight months. The judge said this would allow the students to resume studies next year. However, whether they will be allowed back still remains to be seen.
Both took voluntary suspension from their courses after their arrest in order to avoid meeting their victims. The University’s Academic Registrar, Rex Knight, told the Wessex Scene “The offence was not committed on University premises and is a police matter [...] The University does not condone criminal acts, and events have taken their course. The matter of the students continuing their education is under consideration.”

The reaction of those students who knew about the incident (which is surprisingly few, the University managing to keep this story under wraps) was one of disbelief. “Whilst this kind of behaviour is inexcusable it was a shock to everyone here,” notes Alex Pordage, President of Highfield Halls JCR, “Staff and students alike felt it was just so out of character. Highfield Hall has to be Southampton’s best. Everyone’s so friendly; it’s like a big family. It’s a shame that something like this tarnishes us.”

Questions have to be asked. What is to be done next? Of course, now that the two have been convicted this mistake will stay with them for the rest of their life. If you knew that the person in the room next to you at halls had been convicted of such a crime would you feel safe? However, once the pair have paid their debt to society is it up to the University to determine how much longer they have to keep paying?