Nial mason 6 months suspended prison sentence!!!!

[bobjimwilly]

The fact that he's been put on the sex offenders register will make it impossible for him to visit kids in schools, hospitals etc or actually play any part in any campaign that Rovers run that concerns minors. They would also be automatically excluded from the Family Excellence awards, I would presume.

[Copps is Magic]

Just watching the Spurs V Newcastle game, players walking out holding hands with the mascots... Would he be even able to do that? I don't mean ethically, I mean within the law ..

[IDM]

BJW makes an important point..  that element of Mason’s existing punishment may in itself create further problems..

Many trades and jobs don’t involve potentially working with groups, where being on the sex offenders register makes a difference..

So as unfair as it may seem to add what might be extra punishment, the club may have little choice..

Even more reason for them to pursue due diligence and follow proper procedures both legally and with the football authorities and PFA.

[Donnybob]

Don't disagree with that. There is no simple or even comfortable outcome.

The ultimate end might be we keep him till the summer and move him on (don't know his contract situation). Sounds to me like he copped a plea to avoid the risk of a custodial sentence.

I don't know the guy but I am guessing he is not a risk to children, nevertheless it would be inappropriate to put him in that situation.

Then again the club might simply terminate his contract and live with the consequences, which would be the loss of a playing asset and possibly a lower league placing at the end of the season.

Its a harsh decision that I'm glad I dont have to make but whatever the club decides we should accept their action as the best outcome and support it.

[drfchound]

Mason hasn’t violated a child though has he.
It shouldn’t be an issue if he was to hold the hand of one when coming onto the pitch.
If he is sacked and gets another club before the seven years are up he would no doubt be holding the hands of a child when coming onto the pitch with another club.

[graingrover]

These comments about kids and Niall are outrageous ..hope he bloody sues you all

[DonnyBazR0ver]

I wish everyone would put a stop to all this speculation going round in circles. We are in no place to be judge, jury or executioner and should just let the club go through the correct process and have faith they will do the right thing.

[IDM]

These comments about kids and Niall are outrageous ..hope he bloody sues you all

You are missing the point completely..  no one, and certainlly not me, is implying that, far from it..

The issue is being on the sex offenders register, nothing more, nothing less..

That you are now implying that anyone is suggesting otherwise is quite offensive..

[foxbat]

I really liked the way Mason had progressed over the last 12 months but , unfortunately, now need to get rid.

[Lytham Rover]

These comments about kids and Niall are outrageous ..hope he bloody sues you all

If you are the sex offenders register people have a right to look at that and he has to go on courses with probation to learn from his error
It doesn't matter if the offence is with adults or children the consequences are the same
Being a sex offender puts lots of constraints on him and all offenders
A sex offender is a sex offender

[Copps is Magic]

These comments about kids and Niall are outrageous ..hope he bloody sues you all

I suggest you actually read what's written and not what you think is written.

[Copps is Magic]

Mason hasn’t violated a child though has he.

No one's evenly remotely suggested or even raised that issue but you.

If you know the law regarding the sex offenders register and enhanced CRB checks or whatever then make an interjection...

[sha66y]

Can the moderators remove this pathetic subject,

it gains little value reading the values of the morally pure pointing condemning fingers at a guy who got a bit leery in a pub and over stepped the mark...
He is no more a “ sex offender” than you or I , he has no history or reputation for this kind of behaviour,

Yet most on here seem to enjoy the snidey malice attached to those 2 words....as if it’s a reality...the guy fcuk’d up once...only once!

He has pleaded guilty , yet I feel he maybe regrets even doing that....especially as we have so many pious men here, who have NEVER been caught doing inappropriate things.....

The lad cocked up, got punished, and I would imagine will regret it for the REST OF HIS LIFE, ......

If you ...yes you have never committed any crime or sin, then you may have a right to condemn him...but if not, remember this...you just got away with it because you got lucky...lol

[bobjimwilly]

it's actually threads like this that open your eyes to some peoples opinions, and what they actually think of serious crimes, such as sexual assault.

not one person on here has made me think, "they are enjoying this". We are all Rovers fans, and probably didn't want one of our best defenders getting himself in this position. But to remove it because you and others wish it didn't happen is not the point here.

[Jonathan]

I don’t think this is about the club playing judge and jury. It’s correct to point out that Mason has already been punished through the courts.

I’ve no doubt at all that Niall Mason can learn from this and make a positive contribution to society as a decent human being. He won’t be denied that second chance in life and his football career is far from over. In that sense he’s a very fortunate person. He’s admitted to committing a crime but he still has a skill to fall back on that is in high demand and commands a lot of money. His life isn’t over.

The decision to be made by the club is much less about imposing further punishment on Mason. It’s about whether Mason’s actions have caused a breakdown of trust in the contractual relationship and essentially brought the name of the club into disrepute in the process. The club has a reputation to protect.

If a decision is made to take robust and decisive action against Mason (fine / suspension) and then support his rehabilitation and encourage some form of restorative practice then I’ll back that 100% and be happy to support both Mason and the club going forward. If the club decides that the reputational risk is too much to bear and terminate his contract then I will understand that. It’s not an easy decision but, whatever happens, both parties will go on. And I hope the victim can put this episode behind her too.

[IDM]

Can the moderators remove this pathetic subject,

it gains little value reading the values of the morally pure pointing condemning fingers at a guy who got a bit leery in a pub and over stepped the mark...
He is no more a “ sex offender” than you or I , he has no history or reputation for this kind of behaviour,

Yet most on here seem to enjoy the snidey malice attached to those 2 words....as if it’s a reality...the guy fcuk’d up once...only once!

He has pleaded guilty , yet I feel he maybe regrets even doing that....especially as we have so many pious men here, who have NEVER been caught doing inappropriate things.....

The lad cocked up, got punished, and I would imagine will regret it for the REST OF HIS LIFE, ......

If you ...yes you have never committed any crime or sin, then you may have a right to condemn him...but if not, remember this...you just got away with it because you got lucky...lol

The debate now is how the club reacts to having a player on the sex offenders register - not about fans pointing condemning fingers at Mason..

Got a bit leery and overstepped the mark.?

He was convicted of a sexual assault, whether you agree with it or not..

[Scooter]

Can the moderators remove this pathetic subject,

it gains little value reading the values of the morally pure pointing condemning fingers at a guy who got a bit leery in a pub and over stepped the mark...
He is no more a “ sex offender” than you or I , he has no history or reputation for this kind of behaviour,

Yet most on here seem to enjoy the snidey malice attached to those 2 words....as if it’s a reality...the guy fcuk’d up once...only once!

He has pleaded guilty , yet I feel he maybe regrets even doing that....especially as we have so many pious men here, who have NEVER been caught doing inappropriate things.....

The lad cocked up, got punished, and I would imagine will regret it for the REST OF HIS LIFE, ......

If you ...yes you have never committed any crime or sin, then you may have a right to condemn him...but if not, remember this...you just got away with it because you got lucky...lol

How can you say he is no more a sex offender than you or I?

I have never committed a sexual assault and I am not a sex offender, and I’m sure pretty much the other members of this forum are not sex offenders.

Even if you don’t like it he broke the law and committed a sex offence. 7 years on the register is not a light sentence. So he IS a sex offender even if he has no prior history. Fact

This thread is interesting to see how a likeable footballer makes a big mistake and the morals and viewpoints it creates.

[RoversAlias]

These comments about kids and Niall are outrageous ..hope he bloody sues you all

No, people have correctly pointed out that being on the sex offenders register - which Mason now is - brings with it problems about aspects of his role as a football player for DRFC. He won't be allowed to participate in much of our community work because it involves children, and there is a question to be asked about his place on the field when we have children as mascots at every game. It has nothing to do with the fact his offence didn't involve a minor, of course we all know that, it is because he is now on the sex offenders register.

Can the moderators remove this pathetic subject,

it gains little value reading the values of the morally pure pointing condemning fingers at a guy who got a bit leery in a pub and over stepped the mark...
He is no more a “ sex offender” than you or I , he has no history or reputation for this kind of behaviour,

Yet most on here seem to enjoy the snidey malice attached to those 2 words....as if it’s a reality...the guy fcuk’d up once...only once!

He has pleaded guilty , yet I feel he maybe regrets even doing that....especially as we have so many pious men here, who have NEVER been caught doing inappropriate things.....

The lad cocked up, got punished, and I would imagine will regret it for the REST OF HIS LIFE, ......

If you ...yes you have never committed any crime or sin, then you may have a right to condemn him...but if not, remember this...you just got away with it because you got lucky...lol

I find your post to be ridiculous in parts, I'm afraid. He has indeed made a big mistake, and done so once...but when you commit a sexual assault you only need to do it once to suffer life-altering consequences. He has been convicted of a serious criminal offence, so he is absolutely more of a sex offender than you or I. Whether or not he deserves to be lumped in with paedophiles and the like who have committed more severe/violent crimes who are also on the sex offenders register is a different debate entirely, but you cannot just excuse Mason for this because it's his first/only offence and he is otherwise a good bloke.

The topic should not be removed, it is about a significant incident involving Doncaster Rovers FC and we all have a right to discuss and debate it within reasonable bounds.

I haven't seen anybody "enjoying" any aspect of this sorry debacle. It is a great shame to see Mason damage or even completely ruin his promising career in one act, and I think we all here know that there is only sadness and regret on all sides of this event.

I found the fact that his lawyer tried to use "he has stopped going out" as some kind of sympathetic notion in the trial. How about the victim? How must she feel when she wants to go out and enjoy social time now, potentially scared/worried/concerned that this may happen to her again? I feel like too many people in discussing this whole thing have completely ignored or forgotten the impact Mason's actions will have had on this woman, and that is the crux of this whole thing. He has put his hands on her when she has expressly told him not to, and he has continued to do it in a seemingly aggressive way. It is not right, it is most certainly illegal and no person, male or female, deserves to be subject to that at any time, by anybody.

[since-1969]

Mason through an act of total stupidly  has most probably ended his career at DRFC . His punishment almost renders him out in the cold working with young people and his offence will travel everywhere until he faces up to his part in the situation by making a statement and offering a ful apology to his accuser and her family . Nothing short of an appeal  by them will see him stay on now . I can not think of any player who after having their careers nose dive , go on to build a career inspite of the offence .

[Herman Hessian]

It depends what you define as "worse". I'd argue that Mason, a convicted sex offender and an individual who poses a safeguarding issue, poses a much greater risk of harm than someone convicted of causing death by dangerous driving.

sorry - someone who's been convicted of a sexual assault poses "a much greater risk of harm" than someone who drives pissed and has killed two children - are you a moron ?

just consider the words "assault" and "death" - which one visits the gravest degree of harm on the victim and their loved ones ?

[Donnybob]

If you care to follow this link you will find the 17-year-old son of 2 police officers, high on cannabis, killing 2 pedestrians and getting 100 hours community service. Even the measly £105 costs will be paid by his parents.

Yes, he also has a curfew (5 days out of 7) and a driving course to attend, but seriously, is the law being applied fairly across the board with punishments that fit the crime?

I appreciate being born long before the 'me-to' movement gained traction and I'm not defending or dismissing the actions of Mason, but a bit of perspective is required.

The word assault has wide ranging connotations from verbal, through touching to battery. Its an emotive description rather than specific. When folk Labour the term assault, or he assaulted her, the implication is gross rather than simplistic.

The question remains, does he show contrition, can he be rehabilitated, can he be forgiven?

Link: https://www.facebook.com/Idiotukdriversmedia/photos/a.318561181625168/1327911780690098/?type=3&theater

[sha66y]

The way that certain posters spew out the words “ sex offender”  is the reason this debate should be stopped, ...

Justice much higher than the verbal opinions of the “tabloid informed” has been served...if the punishment had been a custodial one then I agree that this footballers career at Doncaster is over, however it appears that the severely “ tabloid informed” are also wanting there collective pound of flesh....

A million young ladies will have been groped over the weekend, and a million lucky fellas will have got a Cokc rub squeezing to the bar ....

This shit happens all the time, and girls deal with it, ...
I can’t help but think if it had not been a professional footballer, and just some regular leery young guy, ...would she have slapped him away and moved on , and would her friend have sought the assistance of others to have him removed...

I will never know the true context of this encounter, ...neither will any of you!
But I am prepared to forgive him and allow him to become the best he can , rather than forever point a finger and use words that alienate him from his family and friends....

You lot don’t seem to think about how his family will also be held accountable......

[RoversAlias]

"This shit happens all the time, and girls deal with it"

What an ignorant, out-of-touch and frankly offensive thing to say. Girls shouldn't have to just "deal with it". It isn't the 70s anymore Sha66y, the world has rightly moved on and men cannot go around just touching women wherever and whenever they please because they like the look of them.

That attitude is EXACTLY why people like Niall Mason find themselves in the predicament he now does.

[IDM]

The way that certain posters spew out the words “ sex offender”  is the reason this debate should be stopped, ...

Justice much higher than the verbal opinions of the “tabloid informed” has been served...if the punishment had been a custodial one then I agree that this footballers career at Doncaster is over, however it appears that the severely “ tabloid informed” are also wanting there collective pound of flesh....

A million young ladies will have been groped over the weekend, and a million lucky fellas will have got a Cokc rub squeezing to the bar ....

This shit happens all the time, and girls deal with it, ...
I can’t help but think if it had not been a professional footballer, and just some regular leery young guy, ...would she have slapped him away and moved on , and would her friend have sought the assistance of others to have him removed...

I will never know the true context of this encounter, ...neither will any of you!
But I am prepared to forgive him and allow him to become the best he can , rather than forever point a finger and use words that alienate him from his family and friends....

You lot don’t seem to think about how his family will also be held accountable......

You are missing the point entirely.. me and I assume the other posters aren’t pointing a finger at Mason to say “pervert” in respect of the “sex offender” tag..

It is a debate on how the club deals with the situation of having a player on the sex offenders register.. that is a fact of law and not an opinion about the whys and wherefores of Mason’s case..

Can’t you see the difference.??

[IDM]

If you care to follow this link you will find the 17-year-old son of 2 police officers, high on cannabis, killing 2 pedestrians and getting 100 hours community service. Even the measly £105 costs will be paid by his parents.

Yes, he also has a curfew (5 days out of 7) and a driving course to attend, but seriously, is the law being applied fairly across the board with punishments that fit the crime?

I appreciate being born long before the 'me-to' movement gained traction and I'm not defending or dismissing the actions of Mason, but a bit of perspective is required.

The word assault has wide ranging connotations from verbal, through touching to battery. Its an emotive description rather than specific. When folk Labour the term assault, or he assaulted her, the implication is gross rather than simplistic.

The question remains, does he show contrition, can he be rehabilitated, can he be forgiven?

Link: https://www.facebook.com/Idiotukdriversmedia/photos/a.318561181625168/1327911780690098/?type=3&theater

I think folks are using the term “assault” as that is the legal terminology and what was charged.

It does as you pointed out cover a wide range of offences some much more severe, but use of the word is not incorrect here..?

[Donnybob]

Please don't think I'm jumping to the defence of Mason. He did wrong, he should be appropriately punished and it should end there.

If you and I have a disagreement and you put hour hand on my wrist it can be deemed an assault. If you happen to be in law enforcement some snowflake might even cry police brutality.

The courts have dealt with this matter, some might say rather severely, some may not. It is surely not our role to judge, nor is it fair to portray him as some kind of threat to children or indeed otherwise.

He will need help and support following this. Presumably, so will his family. I cannot speak for the victim but there's a nagging doubt behind all this that had he not been a footballer the incident might have been dealt with very differently.

I'm trusting this is not a pattern of his behaviour, not one of many similar pending offences, nor something he's going to repeat in the future?

[sha66y]

The way that certain posters spew out the words “ sex offender”  is the reason this debate should be stopped, ...

Justice much higher than the verbal opinions of the “tabloid informed” has been served...if the punishment had been a custodial one then I agree that this footballers career at Doncaster is over, however it appears that the severely “ tabloid informed” are also wanting there collective pound of flesh....

A million young ladies will have been groped over the weekend, and a million lucky fellas will have got a Cokc rub squeezing to the bar ....

This shit happens all the time, and girls deal with it, ...
I can’t help but think if it had not been a professional footballer, and just some regular leery young guy, ...would she have slapped him away and moved on , and would her friend have sought the assistance of others to have him removed...

I will never know the true context of this encounter, ...neither will any of you!
But I am prepared to forgive him and allow him to become the best he can , rather than forever point a finger and use words that alienate him from his family and friends....

You lot don’t seem to think about how his family will also be held accountable......

You are missing the point entirely.. me and I assume the other posters aren’t pointing a finger at Mason to say “pervert” in respect of the “sex offender” tag..

It is a debate on how the club deals with the situation of having a player on the sex offenders register.. that is a fact of law and not an opinion about the whys and wherefores of Mason’s case..

Can’t you see the difference.??

me and I assume the other posters aren’t pointing a finger at Mason to say “pervert” in respect of the “sex offender” tag..

It surely feels that way, ... the constant reference to the tag “ sex offender” kinda negates your statement....
If fellow posters just wrote:
“ i think Niall should be sacked because of this conviction”

then the debatable points are SACKED and CONVICTION,
Of which many would agree or not on the SACKING,
The reasons for the CONVICTION, do not need to be debated at length....

something happened, and Niall has admitted that.....he has been convicted, so the debate should be whether he can keep his career at Doncaster Rovers or not....

I seem to be among just a few that sees this offence as an unfortunate incident, and the “slap on the wrist” sentence handed down by the JUDGE,  seems to confirm the gravity placed upon it,

otherwise he would be locked up...

This is how the mole hill became a mountain, this is how the Salom trials started .....lol

that’s my bit said on this thread, I don’t cast stones without all the facts, and I’m not satisfied with what I’ve read ....

[ravenrover]

Good grief next week can't come quick enough, you will all be out of your misery then. Oh but those who want him sacked or those who don't will still bleat about the decision made by the Club

[ChrisBx]

It depends what you define as "worse". I'd argue that Mason, a convicted sex offender and an individual who poses a safeguarding issue, poses a much greater risk of harm than someone convicted of causing death by dangerous driving.

sorry - someone who's been convicted of a sexual assault poses "a much greater risk of harm" than someone who drives pissed and has killed two children - are you a moron ?

just consider the words "assault" and "death" - which one visits the gravest degree of harm on the victim and their loved ones ?

I'm talking about future harm, hence the word risk.

[IDM]

The way that certain posters spew out the words “ sex offender”  is the reason this debate should be stopped, ...

Justice much higher than the verbal opinions of the “tabloid informed” has been served...if the punishment had been a custodial one then I agree that this footballers career at Doncaster is over, however it appears that the severely “ tabloid informed” are also wanting there collective pound of flesh....

A million young ladies will have been groped over the weekend, and a million lucky fellas will have got a Cokc rub squeezing to the bar ....

This shit happens all the time, and girls deal with it, ...
I can’t help but think if it had not been a professional footballer, and just some regular leery young guy, ...would she have slapped him away and moved on , and would her friend have sought the assistance of others to have him removed...

I will never know the true context of this encounter, ...neither will any of you!
But I am prepared to forgive him and allow him to become the best he can , rather than forever point a finger and use words that alienate him from his family and friends....

You lot don’t seem to think about how his family will also be held accountable......

You are missing the point entirely.. me and I assume the other posters aren’t pointing a finger at Mason to say “pervert” in respect of the “sex offender” tag..

It is a debate on how the club deals with the situation of having a player on the sex offenders register.. that is a fact of law and not an opinion about the whys and wherefores of Mason’s case..

Can’t you see the difference.??

me and I assume the other posters aren’t pointing a finger at Mason to say “pervert” in respect of the “sex offender” tag..

It surely feels that way, ... the constant reference to the tag “ sex offender” kinda negates your statement....
If fellow posters just wrote:
“ i think Niall should be sacked because of this conviction”

then the debatable points are SACKED and CONVICTION,
Of which many would agree or not on the SACKING,
The reasons for the CONVICTION, do not need to be debated at length....

something happened, and Niall has admitted that.....he has been convicted, so the debate should be whether he can keep his career at Doncaster Rovers or not....

I seem to be among just a few that sees this offence as an unfortunate incident, and the “slap on the wrist” sentence handed down by the JUDGE,  seems to confirm the gravity placed upon it,

otherwise he would be locked up...

This is how the mole hill became a mountain, this is how the Salom trials started .....lol

that’s my bit said on this thread, I don’t cast stones without all the facts, and I’m not satisfied with what I’ve read ....

It isn’t me nor any other poster labelling him a sex offender, it was the court.!!

All I am doing is adding to the debate on what the club does in this situation.. I am not calling for Mason to be sacked nor the details of his case, but leaving that to the club..

Whereas you seem to be belittling the seriousness of the offence..