by Kieron JH
Let’s talk about justice in Britain. If you supply a bit of weed, you can easily end up with a longer prison sentence than someone who actually rapes another human being. That is not an exaggeration. The data proves it.
Case in Point: The Good Samaritan Rapist
This week, a 19-year-old footballer was sentenced for raping a woman in her own home after she let him charge his phone. For this, the judge gave him less than four years in prison (Daily Mail). Four years for rape. That is not a typo.
Meanwhile, in the same courts, cannabis dealers, most of whom never laid a finger on anyone, are being handed six, eight, ten years, or more. Sometimes this is for just a few kilos of cannabis, a drug that is legal or decriminalised in much of the developed world (Leafly: Legalisation map).
“But Rape is Hard to Prove!”
The usual response is, “Rape is hard to prove.” “Sentencing guidelines allow for strong sentences, but only if the evidence is there.” “The law takes these crimes seriously.” These lines are everywhere (Sentencing Council: Rape).
Sounds great on paper. In reality, the average sentence for rape is consistently lower than for many drug offences (Sentencing Statistical Bulletin 2022, p.40). Sentencing guidelines allow for life imprisonment in rape cases, but judges rarely go anywhere near the maximum. Most sentences fall in the three to six year range, and with time off for good behaviour, rapists can be out in half that time (BBC: Sentencing explained).
Compare and Contrast: Cannabis Dealers
Are there dangerous drug traffickers? Sure. But a huge chunk of cannabis dealers are being punished as harshly, or even more harshly, than people convicted of violent or sexual crimes.
- Leeds, 2024: Dealer caught with kilos of cannabis and some coke. 10 or more years in prison (West Yorkshire Police).
- Scotland, 2024: Cannabis farm operators. Six to nine years each (COPFS.gov.uk).
- London, 2025: Smuggled 60kg of cannabis. Four years, and that is considered lenient (Reuters).
- Liverpool gang, 2023: Seven men, including cannabis trafficking. Total: 55 years (CPS).
- Lithuanian gang, Cambs, 2025: Multi million cannabis operation, lead got almost 12 years (Cambridgeshire Police).
So if you are keeping score: rape a woman, get under four years. Move a few bricks of cannabis, get a decade or more.
Why Is This Happening?
The war on drugs still gets politicians more applause than the war on sexual violence. Drug laws are designed for deterrence and public optics. It is easier to wave around a bag of weed than fix rape conviction rates (BBC: Rape conviction rates).
Meanwhile, the victims of sexual violence watch their attackers walk free in half the time, if they are even convicted at all (The Guardian: Conviction rates).
No Excuses
Sentencing is not just about guidelines and evidence. It is about priorities. Right now, the system has them backwards and it is not the victims who benefit.
If you want to know why public trust in British justice is at rock bottom, just look at the numbers. If you need the receipts, they are linked above.
All claims sourced. Got a challenge, or more stories? Email [email protected]
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