I was reading in some magazine today about one of the contestants in the latest Pop Idols contest. Or more specifically I was reading about his criminal record.

Now, sure he was 17 at the time (and is now 22), he did his jail time, so that should be his debt to society paid, right?

I’m not so sure.

But even if it is, I’m pretty disgusted that this is someone the nations children could potentially be looking up to.

For those who don’t know the background, let me explain.

As far as I can tell, he and two friends kicked, beat and stabbed a man, then stripped him and left him to die by the roadside. They then burgled his house (having taken his keys) and then drove off in his car. It appears to have just been good fortune and blind luck that the man was found by a passer-by and taken to hospital.

The Pop Idol contestant was, according to the newspaper given a 1-year sentence in a young offenders institute, and served only six months.

The victim made a full physical recovery, but is now nervous, afraid to leave the house, and will not leave the house after dark.

Why is it that the victim seems to be serving a life sentence, whilst the perpetrator gets to live the high life?

Don’t get me wrong, I do believe that just about everyone deserves a second chance. In this instance however, i think it’s wrong that he be allowed to remain in this competition, if only for the fact that his past disqualifies him from being any kind of good role model for the youth of today.

Yet as far as the producers are concerned, he has paid his debt to society (somehow 6 months for almost killing a man sounds more like loose change than a debt) and they appear to have no interest in his suitability to become a role model.

Edit

I almost forgot, the link to the news story can be found here