He's got previous: Judge who let teenage rape gang walk free after attack on girl has also spared a sex offender caught with extreme pornography jail

Published: 01:11, 25 May 2026 | Updated: 01:11, 25 May 2026 The judge who spared the teenage traveller rape gang from detention did not jail a sex offender caught with extreme pornography and gave a speeding drug driver who killed a cyclist less than two years in prison. Judge Nicholas Rowland, who has been heavily criticised over the Hampshire rape trial, gave Daniel Rushton a community order after the convicted sex offender was caught with extreme pornography. In 2023, Rushton received a suspended sentence after admitting attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child online. He was arrested again after software installed on his mobile phone as part of a sexual harm prevention order flagged three images depicting bestiality. Judge Rowland last month gave Rushton a 12-month community order for that offence. In another case, he jailed a drug driver for just 21 months after killing a man. Kornel Marcinek smashed into Joe Burton from behind in his BMW while high on marijuana and driving at 37mph in a 30mph zone.  Electrician Mr Burton, 33, from Southampton, had been married for three months. Pictured: One of three teenage travellers convicted of rape following a five-week trial at Southampton Crown Court with the two older boys - both just 14 at the time - also found guilty of taking indecent images of a child, relating to the recordings they made of their attacks All three boys were spared jail despite the horrific nature of the attacks they carried out  Pictured: The youngest of the three rapists in a photograph posted on his TikTok account just two weeks prior to the rape which showed him out late at night hunting rabbits and hares with his lurcher dog, a practice known as 'lamping' - a criminal offence His widow said: 'I don't really have a reason to get up in the morning.' Polish national Marcinek, 25, admitted causing death by dangerous driving, driving without due care and attention and without insurance.  In 2024, Judge Rowland gave suspended sentences to two thieves who stole £76,000 worth of jewellery from a cruise ship. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: 'This judge should be fired. Letting off repeat gang rapists with no prison sentence is appalling.  'The sick youths who did this even filmed themselves and laughed while gang raping school girls. 'They should be jailed – as punishment and as a deterrent. Otherwise others will think they can do this with impunity. 'Now it turns out the judge who let them off has form for leniency in similar cases. It's clear to me that this judge should not be allowed to continue.' It is unclear whether any of these judgements were sent to the Attorney General for review. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.