Slightly OT. A friend of the family a businessman got done for fraud. He was also a magistrate. He pleaded his innocence once the story was splashed in the local rags about the case going to crown court. During the 6 month wait for a crown court appearance, the bloke went around family/friends those with respected professions and business that he was of good character and we all thought he was. Therefore when he asked people to sign a petition re his trustworthiness everyone signed it.
Come to the crown court attendance, he and two other chums all pleaded guilty. This agitated us and others that were bleated to by him We have never spoken with him again. If the jury had found him guilty we would have given him the benefit of the doubt but when you please guilty you are as guilty as s...
He too cried about being innocent/unfairness but was worried if found guilty would get a few years behind bars - what a load of crap
This happened a good 17 years ago and if he see's us he comes over to say hi - as we are not nasty we just say hi back and that is it.