Nearly 600 convicted rapists have been spared jail – fuelling claims the criminal justice system is soft on sex offenders.
In the past five years, some 585 sex attackers walked free from court with a non-custodial sentences – effectively getting away with just a slap on the wrist.
The revelation has angered campaigners who fear judges are not sending a tough enough message on rape when they set sentences.
The damning figures will surprise people at a time when questions over sentencing have been raised over the Parole Board ruling that black cab rapist John Worboys should be released from prison after just ten years.
Nearly 600 convicted rapists have been spared jail – fuelling claims the criminal justice system is soft on sex offenders
Between 2012 and 2016, some 6,079 rapists were convicted in England and Wales. But 585 walked free from court after being handed non-custodial sentences.
Those who avoided jail included 294 who were given community sentences, where they typically have to make amends by doing unpaid manual work on local projects.
Another 85 rapists received only a caution, even though the crime carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Sixty received a suspended jail sentence, nine were handed a conditional discharge and 137 got some other punishment instead of jail.
Campaigners are also concerned that the numbers of non-custodial sentences imposed on rapists could deter victims from reporting attacks.
Questions over sentencing have been raised over the Parole Board ruling that black cab rapist John Worboys (pictured) should be released from prison after just ten years
Critics said the use of cautions and other-non-custodial sentences for grave crimes was undermining the public’s faith in the ability of the justice system to properly punish offenders.
David Spencer, research director of the Centre For Crime Prevention think-tank, said: ‘‘The idea that anyone who is convicted of rape does not warrant a custodial sentence goes against all logic or reason.
‘It will come as a huge shock to the thousands of people who have fallen victim to this despicable offence as well as the public at large put their faith in the justice system to protect them from serious offenders.
‘It is high time the Ministry of Justice look at this issue and take steps to ensure that every rapist spends the time behind bars that their offence deserves.’
Katie Russell, a spokesman for Rape Crisis England and Wales, said: ‘We have always said there should be a review of the use of cautions and other non-custodial sentences because they don’t seem to reflect the seriousness of the crime and the impact on the survivors.’
It is understood many cases involved either under-18s, older people who committed rape a long time ago or those who may have been a partner of the victim.
In one case, a drunken man who raped a woman has walked free from court after a judge said the case was ‘wholly exceptional’.
Lee Maddock, 25, had been arrested after the victim had gone into an East Lancashire police station and had told officers what he had done.
A judge ruled he did not pose a risk to the public when he was sentenced in April 2012 and gave the sex offender a two year community order, with two years’ supervision and an alcohol treatment programme.