Controversial computer game Grand Theft Auto has been blamed for influencing a teenage sex attacker who assaulted four women.
It is alleged that 19-year-old Ryan Chinnery stalked the streets of Ashford, Kent looking for women he thought were prostitutes. When he found them he beat them up, in a fashion similar to the 'missions' taken on by players of the popular video game.
Prosecutor Eleanor Laws said Chinnery's love of Grand Theft Auto "may go some way to explaining his attitude towards women".
"There may be some connection with the defendant admitting spending a lot of time playing that game," she said.
Once again Grand Theft Auto is being made a scapegoat because of our need to portion blame in a crime like this. In reality Grand Theft Auto is no more responsible for these crimes than horror films such as 'Nightmare on Elm Street' and 'Scream' are in encouraging serial killers to go on the rampage, or in fact a gangsta rap lyric about guns in promoting violence in youth gang culture.
Sadly, unhinged individuals such as Chinnery will commit crimes with or without computer games, films or rap lyrics because, unlike 99 percent of us, they are unable to distinguish between real life and fantasy - and the behaviour which is acceptable in both instances. Banning these games, films and lyrics won't prevent the crimes, it'll only serve to punish the rest of us.
See also: Muslim Massacre game: tasteless beyond parody
Comments
Dragon said: Men were raping women back in the Stone Age where many of them belong If a man has that sort of attitude towards women he wont need porno films computer games etc to set him off Rape isnt about sex its about dominance and violence People have been killed by stabbing since I was young The difference now is wider reporting so we hear more about it Crimes which used to have half a column in the local newspaper are now shown on TV news and the National papers I dont actually think knife crime has actually gone up that much its just we hear more about it Gun crime is another matter Guns are frequently brought in via the Channel Tunnel and on the Ferries No-one has the time to individually check each vehicle thoroughly
Smithers said: itll only serve to punish the rest of us too rightThe solution Everyone takes a fit and proper test and carries a card with the results If youre found to have the intelligence of a lemon then you shouldnt be allowed to buywatchlistenplay these products
She Dreams of Having Good Look said: itll only serve to punish the rest of us - says the psycho babbler who gets the sawdust blogging gig withinOnce again we see a computing joke journo coldly snaking across to the hydra paymastersAnd you want equalityWe simply ask for quality