The Sad State of Britain

The vast majority of the crimes which I post here are carried out against completely innocent and unsuspecting victims.

Sometimes, though, you really get a snapshot into the mind of the underclass; people who have been abandoned by society, know nothing of traditional morality and family life other than to scoff at it, and who are worldly beyond their years as young children.

Tragically, cases like the one I am about to describe can be the result for such people:

A MAN who plied a 13-year-old girl with drugs and alcohol before having sex has been jailed for three years.

Gualter Prata-Da-Silva, 32, pictured, gave the girl cannabis, cider and whisky after inviting her to his flat on York Road, East End Park, Leeds.

The girl visited the father-of-two's flat in July 2008 looking for one of her friends.

They later had sex twice, Leeds Crown Court heard.

Prosecuting, Mark McKone said that up to 20 girls believed to be under 16 had called round to see the Portuguese national while his flat was being searched by police.

Sentencing him, Judge Alistair McCallum said: "(She]was a disturbed young girl and was clearly well affected by drink.

One of the reasons the prosecution did not proceed with a rape allegation is because she told you herself that if you got her more drink, she would allow you to have sexual intercourse with her."

After she arrived at his flat at around midday, Prata-Da-Silva gave the girl whisky and cider, later going to the shop to pick up some more and she decided to stay the night with Prata-Da-Silva.

Leeds Crown Court heard the girl was so drunk, she couldn't remember the next day what had happened. Tests showed they had sex twice.

Mr McKone also told the court that before having sex, Prata-Da-Silva and the girl had visited his nephew, who warned him: "What are you doing? She's so young.""

Defending, Timothy Capstick said that the sex was consensual, adding that the girl was "not sexually naive" and led a "chaotic lifestyle".

Prata-Da-Silva, who pleaded guilty to one count of sexual activity with a child, has a daughter of 10 and a son aged eight.

As well as the prison sentence, he will remain on the sex offenders' register for life and must comply with a sexual offences provision order.

What leads someone to think so little of themselves, to be so mercenary at such a young age?

Bear in mind I am in no way condoning his actions; I just think it is very sad that so many lost souls like this young girl now exist in our society.