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Caller John gets emotional as he shares his response to the grooming gangs inquiry, in a powerful call with Ben Kentish.
‘I’m falling apart because of what I’m listening to, and all I’m listening to is failure.'
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0:00
My sister was raped over 20 years ago, but she was raped by a white man
0:04
So for me, what I'm annoyed about is the fact that in this country, we've put race above law
0:12
And the answer really to get, on many conversations that we've had about two-tier systems
0:18
well, there's your answer. You put race above law, and law is meant to be fair towards everybody
0:23
what I want to see now in this country I want to see the establishment
0:27
are responsible for what's happened whoever they are, I don't care if you're Labour
0:32
Conservative, whoever the police that didn't do the investigations proper and I just need to
0:38
ask a question as well actually regarding TPEC in cultural, is that not altering
0:44
evidence, is that not should they not be prosecuted for this I'm just, I want to see
0:50
the police officers, whoever involved in it. I want to see them prosecuted
0:54
I think we should start educating the police regarding what it is to police a country
1:00
Now, what I mean by that is this. I spent 32 years in the Royal Marines, and
1:05
my last place I served was Sierra Leone. Excuse me. John, take your time. I totally understand the emotion
1:14
We took on the West Side Boys because they were creating a civil war there and within 24 hours 48 hours there was peace and that meant women and children could sleep safely in the beds at night time And then I come home to my country
1:36
And it's happening here. As you can see, I'm angry. Excuse me, I'm sorry
1:44
Don, don't apologise. The anger you feel is, in my view, completely and utterly justified on this
1:50
It's completely and utter danger. And most people are with you on it. Most of us are angry
1:55
I just feel now that my government have pointed me in the wrong direction
2:00
How do you mean? The fact that we've now got problems in this country
2:04
where we're starting to implode. I've served in Bosnia, Kosovo, and I've seen some pretty bad things. Yeah
2:16
And I feel ashamed today to be British. Sorry. What is it in particular that you feel ashamed of, John
2:27
The fact is that we're not... As a society, we're breaking down
2:32
and we're meant to be the great British public. We're meant to be a rational people of morals
2:38
And we all go on about great Britishness. And now I'm starting to question it all
2:44
I don't affiliate myself to any government. I don affiliate myself to the left right Call it what you want And I tell you what I do affiliate myself to It being rational Putting an hand out and helping people
2:57
because they're your brethren. And I'm falling apart because of what I'm listening
3:04
And all I'm listening to is failure. Where organisations who are our political masters
3:09
are failing us on a daily basis. And I feel like I'm being kicked
3:15
I feel like a broken man. It sounds like I'm making it about me and I'm not
3:19
I just feel for these young ladies because it seems to me that people who are an authority
3:26
who have the power, the piety to protect them, turn their backs on them and they can't be trusted
3:34
And I want them to be punished. I want them. You're not getting your bonuses
3:37
and you're not getting your early retirement. You're not doing a run of fun this
3:41
You will stand and you will be able to account for what you've done
3:45
because now they're starting to come after us as soldiers. Well, it's taken far too long, John, hasn't it
3:54
for these people to be held accountable? Yes, it has. And we now have to make sure that they are
3:58
Was the man who abused and attacked your sister ever held accountable
4:04
Was he ever brought to justice? Sorry, John, say that again. He got three and a half years
4:09
Three and a half years? Yes. For rape? Yes. and I going to say something very sad now I just wondering man that I emotional My sister committed suicide Oh John I so sorry No it okay It okay It not because she was one of those that was failed in the same way as so many others
4:27
So for me, as you can gather, I've took this very, very personally
4:32
Of course you have. Of course you have. Because it is personal to you. Because your sister was one of the survivors, one of the victims of this
4:39
that was so badly let down by the state. In this case, the guy was bought three years
4:45
Three and a half years ago. And he's cracked on with his life, you know what I mean
4:50
And your sister's no longer with us? No longer with me. And you're dealing with the consequences I can hear every day
4:55
I am, sir, yes, I am. Of course you are. And this is, for me..
4:58
And this is it? Like I said to your research, and I'll end on this, I've always thought that this is a safe country
5:05
and I can't say that anymore. I can't. And, John, you're right not to
5:11
because too many people who entrusted or who we entrusted their safety to the state
5:16
the state failed them. And it failed them woefully. And too many people who are responsible for that failure
5:23
have not been held to account for it. And they need to be. John, you take care of yourself
5:28
Thank you very, very much, Dean, for calling in. John, talking there, I think about the lifelong impact
5:32
of these awful crimes and the fact that too many who commit them get away with it
5:38
Even when they go to prison, they get away with it Because three years is not a proper sentence, is it
5:43
for what that man did to John and his family
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