SNP voters have slammed Humza Yousaf over controversial sentencing guidelines that resulted in a child rapist being given community service instead of a prison sentence.
The guidelines relating to criminals aged under 25 were introduced last year by the Scottish Sentencing Council, which was created by SNP ministers.
They say that under-25s should only be jailed as a last resort because their characters are not as 'fixed' as that of an older person and that they may be more capable of changing their behaviour.
But Humza Yousaf and his SNP colleagues faced a furious backlash from voters, including many of their own supporters, following the decision not to jail rapist Sean Hogg due to his age.
Using Freedom of Information law, the Scottish Conservatives can reveal the contents of scathing emails and letters to Humza Yousaf and his justice secretary Angela Constance.
Many warn that unless the “soft-touch” guidelines are withdrawn, they won't vote SNP again. The Scottish Conservatives are calling for them to be scrapped.
One member of the public told Yousaf – who was justice secretary when the guidelines were consulted on in 2020 – that he should “hang his head in shame”.
Another expressed "disgust and dismay" while one said that "women will be disproportionately at risk compared to men".
One individual said they “genuinely feel less safe living and working in Scotland” and believe “this under-25 policy is making Scotland a more dangerous place to live”.
Another accused the SNP government of failing to protect a serious crime victim and wider society.
Shadow justice secretary Russell Findlay urged SNP ministers to heed public anger and advice and ditch the guidelines.
Scottish Conservative shadow justice secretary Russell Findlay MSP, said: “This tranche of emails reveals the strength of anger across Scotland.
“In the real world, people know that a grown man who repeatedly raped a child should be locked up. Unfortunately for those whose lives are blighted by crime, Humza Yousaf has spent his entire career inside the Holyrood bubble.
“Hopefully these emails will have served as a reality check for Humza Yousaf and help to challenge the SNP's relentless and reckless pursuit of a soft-touch justice system.
“They need to listen to the public and scrap these guidelines. Law-abiding Scots who suffer at the hands of dangerous young offenders have had enough and only the Scottish Conservatives remain committed to putting the rights of victims at the heart of our justice system."
Notes
Below are extracts from the letters sent to SNP ministers. In bold is the attachment the quote is taken from.
SH23: Rapist gets community service so much for Scottish justice disgraceful decision does this judge live in the real world. Do something about it or I won’t be voting SNP in the next elections.
RB3: This under 25 policy is making Scotland a more dangerous place to live. Women will be disproportionally at risk compared to men as their under 25 years of age perpetrators of violence and sexual assault will be handed a soft touch sentence. Surely you can see how wrong this is…..? Surely you must feel in your gut that this is not right…..? I genuinely feel less safe living and working in Scotland than ever before. What steps can you take to remedy this situation?
SH25: Dear Humza I feel compelled to write to you to voice my complete and utter disgust and dismay that in the country I have lived my entire life we now appear to be condoning the horrendous act of rape on a child.
SH35: Sir [Humza Yousaf] your attitude towards rape is disgusting a 21yr old man rapes a 13 yr old girl and you agree with a community service order because he is young, are you claiming that he doesn't know that's wrong? My god unbelievable she was 13 which in itself is illegal never mind the rape, would you have the same view if your own daughter was raped? I find your attitude towards women disgusting.
SH47: Mr Yousaf This appears to be another case where the Scottish Government enacted laws have failed to protect the victim of a serious crime and indeed, failed to protect wider society. This man has been convicted of rape yet under SNP laws, he will not serve a custodial sentence. That is utterly bizarre. Why do you support this policy?
SH32: FAO ANGELA CONSTANCE
As a long time SNP supporter, it is with a heavy heart I write this email.
As I watched the news last night I learned about the 13 year old rape victim who’s rapist will not receive a custodial sentence. Being completely appalled by this I looked into why this was.
I have learned this is due to a policy change by the SNP which aims to treat criminals under the age of 25 differently due to the immaturity of their brain. I have also learned these guidelines were drawn up by the Scottish Sentencing Council which was set up by the SNP Scottish Government and led by Lady Dorrian, the Lord Justice Clerk… I am not generally someone who would email regarding this type of thing, but I feel so strongly that rape is far too serious a crime for no custodial sentence to be passed. If this case is not reviewed I will never vote SNP again, and I imagine many parents will share my views.
SH33: I am seething with anger at the pathetic sentence of a rapist - community service - this is appalling… There are pathetically few rape cases which ever reach courts so when a man is found guilty then not jailed it sends a very dangerous precedent. I am not a SNP supporter and never will be if this sentence is the shape of Scottish policy - disgusting.
RB4: Please do not tell me that that murderer did not know he had done wrong, he should be locked up for life with the keys thrown away. The victim's family are already distraught enough without the added insult of a lesser sentence because he's 23! SNP please get these guidelines ditched. I will now never vote SNP ever!
SH6: It would seem that your party is not content with protecting its own sexual predators ([redacted s38(1)(b)(personal information)]you are now protecting all sexual predators. Not content with protecting sexual predators, you tried to enable them with the gender reform legislation, which Westminster has blocked, thankfully. Your party has turned Scotland into a corrupt cesspit.
SH8: Many women already feel very vulnerable, and this sentence is not a deterrent to other nor is it a punishment for Sean Hogg’s crime. I wonder if the people who made this decision would feel the same if the crime was committed against one of their family members. It is shocking, to say the least. Shame on the SNP for allowing this.
SH13: The SNP have given under 25year olds a licence to commit one of the most serious crimes ever ( this young lady will have to live with this forever) however the then 17 year old man is done and dusted with it after completing his 270 hrs. I will be very interested in how you will try to justify this case. Between this law and the gender reform one where another violent sex offender ( against other women) was almost placed in a women’s prison. The SNP are giving rapist of women free rein. I will never ever vote for SNP again in my lifetime and will try to persuade as many people as possible not to vote for SNP the party who support rapists I am utterly disgusted by the actions of your party.
SH15: I have just learned of a man recently convicted of raping a 13-year-old girl, being given a community service order. No jail time. I am appalled that he is effectively being let off with this crime. This is not the outcome the parents of a child victim would expect from Scottish justice. What signal does this send? Is this what Scotland has become? A haven for rapists? As an SNP voter, this is not a party political thing, but I am am gravely concerned about the direction our courts are taking.
SH17: As first minister of Scotland you should hang your head in shame that you and your party think this is in anyway acceptable to anyone. I have never voted for the SNP and will never entertain the idea of voting for the SNP in the future. You and your party are an absolute disgrace, not only to the women of Scotland but to women everywhere. I have never felt ashamed of being Scottish until today but you and the SNP party and your government have today made me feel that way. Shame on you.
SH54: It is my opinion as well hundreds upon hundreds to people in Scotland who read an article published on Facebook by STV this morning, that this sentence is ridiculously lenient and, I’d go as far as to say it makes a mockery of the justice system. Something needs to be done about this