Fury at sheriff's 'exile' comments
Maxwell's name was added the sex offenders' list
Scottish Justice Minister Jim Wallace has been asked to investigate comments made by a sheriff as he allowed a paedophile to escape a jail term.
Thomas Maxwell was sentenced to three years probation and 240 hours community service by Sheriff William Reid at Alloa Sheriff Court.
The sheriff said he took the 60-year-old's "self-imposed exile" to the Western Isles into account when passing sentence.
But Sheriff Reid's comments have provoked anger in Leverburgh, on the Isle of Harris, where Maxwell now lives.
Western Isles MP Calum Macdonald has written to Mr Wallace over the matter.
Mr Macdonald said: "The implication of the sheriff's remarks that 'voluntary exile to a remote part of the Western Isles' was equivalent to a custodial sentence has, for obvious reasons, been much resented by my constituents."
Mr Macdonald said he wanted clarification on what directions were given to sheriffs to guard against them making insensitive comments.
The islands' MSP, Alasdair Morrison, said he was "absolutely dismayed" at Sheriff Reid's remarks.
He said: "I share the concerns which have been expressed by community representatives on Harris."
Maxwell, a Jehovah's Witness for more than 30 years, was found guilty of sex offences against a 12-year-old.
Sentencing him Sheriff Reid, who described the offences as "thoroughly nasty", said: "If I were to send you to prison the maximum period you could spend there would be three months, and then you would be released back into the community without any supervision whatsoever.
"I doubt whether such a short period of imprisonment would benefit you or society as a whole.
"It is better for the community that you be kept under prolonged supervision.
"I also take into account that you have voluntarily exiled yourself to some remote part of the Western Isles."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/scotland/newsid_882000/882462.stm
More on Thomas Maxwell on The Watchtower Observer
Yakki Da
Kent
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