A few months later...
Jake was doing up his tie, it wasn't often he had to wear a suit. Usually only for weddings, funerals....court appearances. Today was one such occasion. He was going to court to be sentenced for his crime. He looked at himself in the mirror to see if he thought he looked smart enough. He decided he did. He picked up his jacket off the back of the chair, he didn't need to wear it just yet. He bent down and picked up his holdall. He'd packed everything he thought he would need. There was a very strong chance he was going to prison today. He was appearing at the crown court so that wasn't a good sign, but he had been lucky enough to get bail.
Jake had admitted full responsibility for the crime immediately when interviewed and was going to plead guilty today in court. His lawyer seemed hopeful for a suspended sentence due to Jake admitting his guilt right from the start, pleading guilty, and showing adequate remorse. Jake had felt bad about the whole thing, the young boy dying. It had kept him awake at night. But if he was honest he was still more upset over losing Cindy than anything else. She refused to speak to him and worse still that damn bitch Mandy continued to harass him and was asking for money from him for their daughter. Like he really needed all that right now! He repeatedly told the bitch to fuck off and she would ignore him time and time again
Jake took a few deep breaths to calm himself down. There was no good in getting wound up over this today, he had to focus on the court and try to get a light sentence if he could. He was scared at the prospect of prison, he wasn't sure how he could handle that. He was quite a tough young man, went to the gym, did a bit of bodybuilding, and could handle himself in a fight. He was pretty sure he would be able to look himself physically in there but it was the mental and emotional side of it that scared him
There was a knock on the bedroom door. It was his mother reminding him that it was time to go soon and asking if he wanted any breakfast. Jake said that he simply could not eat this morning, he felt too sick. His mother was concerned, feeling that he really should eat something, so he agreed to let her make him some toast. But when he sat down to eat it he could only manage a few mouthfuls
Finally, they left for court. His father drove. Jake sat in the back of the car and watched the world go by out the window. He wondered would the next time he saw the free world be from the window of the van as he was driven to a prison, and if so how long until he would be out free again? Yes, he was damn scared, he couldn't help it.
When they arrived at court, his lawyer had a few words with him in a side room prior to sentencing
''Just say you're sorry, show remorse. It's going to go in your favour if you show as much remorse as you can'' He told Jake
Jake was not really listening at this point, he could not take much in. He just felt so terrified
He and his parents sat for what felt like forever in the waiting area. Eventually, Jake was called into court. His parents hugged him and wished him luck as they went to court. Jake was put in the dock, while his parents sat in the public gallery. Jake noticed a hostile-looking man and woman also sitting in the public gallery, glaring angrily at him. He figured they were the dead boy's parents. It seemed to him that they hated him and they wanted to kill him. In fact, if looks could kill he would be dead now. But who could blame them? He understood why they would hate him and he'd feel the same in their shoes, well he guessed he would anyway.
His lawyer put a case to the judge for a lenient sentence
''My client has admitted guilt and pleaded guilty right from the earliest opportunity, sparing the time and expense of a trial and sparing any further suffering for the victim's family. My client has expressed his deep remorse for what he did and he must now live with it for the rest of his life. Sir, I would please ask you to show some leniency to my client''
The prosecution of course was far less sympathetic. Giving Jake a look of sheer contempt before standing to address the judge, as if it were her own son he killed, the prosecutor urged the judge to punish Jake harshly and make an example of him. She felt that nothing less than a lengthy prison term should do
After what felt like ages sitting in the dock, all the while feeling increasingly claustrophobic, Jake was asked to stand. He got to his feet to face the judge, put his hands behind his back, and held his head up high. Whatever happened now, Jake was determined to hold his head high, stay calm, no crying, no grimacing. He would just take whatever he was given on the chin
The judge paused for a moment as if he was still unsure what sentence to impose. This was driving Jake mad. Whatever was going to happen now he just wanted to know at this point, the not knowing was killing him! Finally, the judge spoke
''Jake Stephens, this is an exceptionally serious crime and one that this court cannot take lightly. A young teenager with his whole life ahead of him is now dead because of your reckless behavior. Jake Stephens, I sentence you to 18 months imprisonment....''
Keep calm keep calm...Jake was saying over and over to himself in his head. The judge was pausing again as they do on those tv shows to add to the suspense. Jake had worked it out, the judge was going to let him think he is going to prison for a few seconds, let him have a few seconds of terror, before saying...
'' suspended for two years. You will be on probation during that time and will have regular meetings with a probation officer You will also be banned from driving for three years. I am imposing the maximum fine which is a fine of £5,000........''
The judge paused again. There was going to be something else too. The punishment wouldn't stop here...
''You will also carry out 250 hours of unpaid work. It would have been 300, but I am deducting 50 hours because of your guilty plea''
Jake could. feel the relief flooding his body, he wasn't going to prison! He glanced over at his parents with a smile, they smiled back. The man in the public gallery got to his feet, sheer anger on his face. He yelled at the judge
''THIS IS A JOKE! THIS IS A DISGRACE! THAT ARSEHOLE KILLED OUR SON AND YOU'RE NOT EVEN SENDING HIM TO PRISON! YOU CALL THIS JUSTICE? IT'S A JOKE!... AND YOU ARE GOING TO BAN HIM FROM DRIVING FOR THREE YEARS, IS THAT ALL? HE KILLED SOMEONE REMEMBER, HE SHOULD BE BANNED FOR LIFE!''
The judge was most irate at this outburst and reprimanded the man sternly, warning him to belt up or face being in contempt of court. Then he and his wife left, cursing angrily as they went. The wife quietly wept as she left and her husband comforted her and assured her everything would be alright.
Jake was let out of the dock, but before leaving he politely thanked the judge for sparing him prison. He rushed to his parents and they embraced warmly, full of joy. They had gotten the best possible outcome. Once outside the courtroom and in the waiting area, Jake's lawyer stressed to him the extreme importance of not committing any further crimes during the two years that the suspended sentence is active as a breach would result in the prison sentence being activated immediately. Jake said that he understood and had no intention of committing any more crimes. He was told that if he was to be caught driving while banned the consequences of that would be severe, he promised he would not drive.
Now it was all over. All Jake had to do was pay his fine, do his unpaid work and attend his meetings with probation. Oh, and keep out of trouble for two years He was rather gutted about the three-year driving ban and he wasn't sure how this would affect his job as a mechanic. A mechanic who is not allowed to drive could be a problem, but maybe he would talk to his boss about it and reach an agreement.
As they left the court and walked into the fresh air, Jake felt that it had never seemed as amazing as it did today. Freedom.