Sarah Sands Stabbed a Convicted Pedophile Neighbor Who Had Abused Her 12-Year-Old Son and Served Nearly Four Years

CANNING TOWN, LONDON — Sarah Sands stabbed 77-year-old Michael Pleasted, a convicted pedophile and her neighbor, after learning he had sexually abused her 12-year-old son and other local boys. A jury cleared her of murder and convicted her of manslaughter by reason of loss of control. At the Old Bailey in September 2015 Judge Nicholas Cooke QC called it a truly exceptional case and jailed her for three and a half years. The Court of Appeal later said that was too lenient and raised the term to seven and a half years, noting she had not called emergency services. She served nearly four years.

The Guardian covered the original sentence. The BBC sat down with her three sons in 2022. They said killing their abuser did not stop the harm.

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