The father of an 18-year-old from South Wales knew he had to do the right thing when he found out that his son had committed a heinous crime. Instead of covering it up and trying to shield him from the law, the father decided to let him pay for his crime.
Jack Evans, an 18-year-old boy who was a top grade student, reportedly raped a girl when he was 17 years old. He was in college at the time in January 2019, and was studying history, computing, and math. After he committed the sexual crime, he nearly escaped the hands of justice because the girl, who was a virgin before the incident, never came forward and complained.
His parents discovered the truth when they saw a text he had sent to the victim, apologizing to her for what he had put her through. The father, a 47-year-old software engineer named Jonathan, and the mother, 47-year-old Sarah, were shocked when they saw the message from their son, telling the victim not to go to the police.
When they went to the children’s advice center, the parents were told that they needed to tell the police what happened. Jonathan told Mirror, “I did not march him to the station, I believe you have to own what you did. So I had to make it his choice.”
The parents took Jack to the police, where he confessed his crime, after which the investigators found the victim.
The father said, “I am really proud of him for coming to the conclusion that the right thing to do was admit to it. He was a bright lad, he just is made a mistake. I’m hoping being in prison will give him time to reflect.”
While some parents might stay quiet about the things their children do, Jonathan said, “We wanted to get him to understand what he’s done. He’s taken it in now that what he’s done is wrong. It’s been very difficult but I just wanted to help him. We are strong as a family group and have had lots of support from friends and they are telling me I have done the right thing.”
In court, Gareth Williams who was on the defending side, said, “It is extremely rare for anyone to admit to such a serious offence without there being a complaint,” as quoted by the Daily Mail. Due to the “exceptional circumstances,” a suspended sentence was asked for.
However, Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke said he still needed to serve time for what he did. “Two months after the rape you apologised to your victim and said you understood why she was upset,” the judge said. “But that text came to the attention of your father and mother who took you to a police station. You told an officer your name and said you’d has sex with the young woman.”
Jack was sent to a young offender institution for two years and will be spending the next decade as a registered sex offender. The sentence he was given had factored the age at which he committed the crime as well as him pleading guilty to his crime.
The father, who dreams of his son joining him in his software engineering firm when his sentence is over, hopes that Jack will earn some qualifications and will use his time wisely.
Dad who made his rapist son confess to the police says he would do it again https://t.co/Rmm90LkVW2 pic.twitter.com/u7DD0vPbtf
— The Mirror (@DailyMirror) June 30, 2020
Jonathan also told Mirror about making his son confess, “I would do the same thing again, I would have to because that is my moral standing on it, it is painful but it is right. You cannot get on with your life if you live your life under a lie, as much as this hurts it is the right thing to do.”
