Kirsty Paterson Has Sentence Reduced

To update a case we've been following, Kirsty Paterson has had her prison sentence removed by judges. She was convicted of the "crime" of having consensual sex with her father.

Both she and Stephen Paterson, 44, admitted committing incest after their sexual relationship was discovered and a sheriff jailed them for 16 months each.

Outrageous. This is the 21st century, and people are still getting assigned prison time for consensual sex.

But judges at the Court of Criminal Appeal in Edinburgh quashed the daughter's prison sentence and placed her on probation for two years with a condition that she get counselling as required.

Why does someone need "therapy" for this?

The judge said it should be "immediately recognised" that incest was a serious offence and where committed by an adult on a child the adult offender could expect a prison sentence. But he added: "The situation of consensual intercourse between consanguineous adults is a different one."

Lord Carloway said the court required to mark its disapproval of Paterson's criminal conduct but ultimately had to consider whether sending her to jail was the appropriate method of dealing with her.

Of course loving sex is different than child molestation or rape. Carloway should have taken a stand against the absurdity of the law that punishes the former.

Paterson's father separately attempted to appeal against his sentence late, but it was refused.

Future generations are going to look back and wonder how these authorities could have been so hateful. Consenting adults have a right to sex, love and marriage.

Persecuted, Prosecuted

Two adults could be jailed for two years for a consensual relationship. This news article refers to them or their actions as:

"depraved"
"warped"
"filthy"
"pervy"
"twisted"
"sick"

Stephen Paterson is 43. His lover, Kristy is 27. They have been prosecuted because of their love.

Kirsty was born exactly 27 years ago today after a fling between Paterson and an Ayrshire crimper, who were both 16 at the time.

The teenage parents put the tot up for adoption, and she was raised by a Lanarkshire family.

But just over two years ago Kirsty tracked down her dad in Girvan, Ayrshire, where she also now lives. And within months she and her new-found father were meeting for SEX at her home.

Stephen Paterson was married, and it is a shame he was secretive in keeping this love from his wife, and a shame that she couldn't be more accepting. If she had been, then perhaps he wouldn't have been secretive. It was his wife who turned him in to authorities.

Notice that under law, not only can these lovers not marry, but they can actually be jailed and ordered to stay away from each other. Why is this anybody else's business? These people are our neighbors - productive members of society who pay their taxes. Why can't we leave them alone? Why does a news source attack them?