This is a disgrace how ignorant this judge appears to be: people with Asperger's are born Autistic and can't help being the way they are (saying inappropriate things). If the girls had no support untill now, that means they've had to suffer in silence and being misunderstood and quite probably taunted by unforgiving society. No wonder they'd 'lashed out'. I bet, there wasn't anyone protesting when their poor Mother was 'going it alone' (and where's the girls' father in all of this?) with no support from anybody for their condition! Like a pack of wolves some people are: they reap apart anyone who's "different".

Lily Anne Mitchel wrote:
This is a disgrace how ignorant this judge appears to be: people with Asperger's are born Autistic and can't help being the way they are (saying inappropriate things). If the girls had no support untill now, that means they've had to suffer in silence and being misunderstood and quite probably taunted by unforgiving society. No wonder they'd 'lashed out'. I bet, there wasn't anyone protesting when their poor Mother was 'going it alone' (and where's the girls' father in all of this?) with no support from anybody for their condition! Like a pack of wolves some people are: they reap apart anyone who's "different".

Well,Lily Anne,as you seem to know so much about Aspergers Syndrome and are such an understanding caring individual,perhaps you should have these two little toerags move in with you so their neighbours can have a bit of peace and quiet.
And please do not try to lecture me about this particular condition,as a friend of mine had this condition and he never ever did anything to disrupt the lives of other people.
What these two little darlings need to do is keep off the beer and get jobs to keep them occupied...

And by the way;according to this
http://en.wikipedia.
org/wiki/Asperger_sy
ndrome

Aspergers are not predisposed to criminal behaviour:Read the section on 'Social Interaction'...
And which 'Medical Expert' diagnosed their alleged condition...Their mother perhaps...?

It's all about 'boundaries'. I have worked with 'Special needs' and 'Naughty' children...for over 5 years, through classroom supporting and now teaching. At first, it was difficult as they did not know the boundaries. After involving them in the 'making of the class rules'and actually sticking to the rules, they now know what I expect from them and they are a great bunch. Even other teachers have commented on their improved behaviour and the children enjoy the 'positive praise' they are now receiving-once they have been congratulated for 'making the right choice', it's amazing how they change their behaviour. It should be rolled out as a national campaign...positive praise + boundaries = achieving children + happy teacher/parents. Try it and see!

Does their mother not think this has cost the tax payers enough they couldn't behave they should take the punishment and shut up

Katie said: `We've both started to sort our lives out - we have both got jobs now. Ashleigh said: "I think this is ridiculous. We don't want any more trouble."

Oh, so now they want to, and now they know they are potentially in some serious trouble, they CAN behave?

That doesn't sound like a couple of children who can't help what they are doing.

It looks like two naughty girls (whose parents are condoning their feral behaviour) who realise they aren't going to get away with it any longer.

Dear Hellboy,

Yes, you are quite correct; wikipedia does refer to academic/medical research that concluded Asperger's Syndrome people are not predisposed to criminal behaviour.

In fact, those with AS are more often the victims of crime, victims of bullying and assaults and so on (also on wikipedia). Which kind of fits in with the way these girls have been ostracised by the local community. Nice way to treat vulnerable young people. Good to know that 'Care in the Community' is working.

So anyway, yes, you're completely correct to say Aspies are not predisposed to criminal behaviour.

If they're not criminally inclined, if their intentions weren't to commit crime, but perhaps they misunderstood boundaries, or perhaps responded inappropriately to certain situations, don't you think it's inappropriate to criminalise them for having a non-typical mindset, which the medical profession recognises as being disabled?

Criminalising an Aspie for anti-social behaviour is a bit like criminalising a dyslexic for not being able to spell.

Having said that Aspies are not pre-disposed to criminal behaviour, that's not to say that Aspies will never act in a way whereby a crime takes place. This can be inadvertent and unintentional. Aspies can act inappropriately and their behaviour can cross boundaries.

For example, I'm Aspie, and if people innocently touch me (I'm fairly non-tactile) I can totally freak out and lash out, and in the past I have done. Can you imagine how terrifying it might be, to have community ASBO officers and police officers grab hold of you if you freak out when you're touched by people you don't know?

Aspidistra wrote:
Dear Hellboy,

Yes, you are quite correct; wikipedia does refer to academic/medical research that concluded Asperger's Syndrome people are not predisposed to criminal behaviour.

In fact, those with AS are more often the victims of crime, victims of bullying and assaults and so on (also on wikipedia). Which kind of fits in with the way these girls have been ostracised by the local community. Nice way to treat vulnerable young people. Good to know that 'Care in the Community' is working.

So anyway, yes, you're completely correct to say Aspies are not predisposed to criminal behaviour.

If they're not criminally inclined, if their intentions weren't to commit crime, but perhaps they misunderstood boundaries, or perhaps responded inappropriately to certain situations, don't you think it's inappropriate to criminalise them for having a non-typical mindset, which the medical profession recognises as being disabled?

Criminalising an Aspie for anti-social behaviour is a bit like criminalising a dyslexic for not being able to spell.

Having said that Aspies are not pre-disposed to criminal behaviour, that's not to say that Aspies will never act in a way whereby a crime takes place. This can be inadvertent and unintentional. Aspies can act inappropriately and their behaviour can cross boundaries.

For example, I'm Aspie, and if people innocently touch me (I'm fairly non-tactile) I can totally freak out and lash out, and in the past I have done. Can you imagine how terrifying it might be, to have community ASBO officers and police officers grab hold of you if you freak out when you're touched by people you don't know?

Fair comment,Aspidistra;a
s I am only someone who has observed Aspergers from the outside in,I guess I am making sweeping comments about something that I do not know that much about,but I think my beef is with certain individuals that play the system by claimimng to be sufferers of this and that(mainly ADHD annd Aspergers Syndrome)to slip under the net when they act in an anti-social manner.
I live on a council estate where the kids are MORE than aware of this,and exploit various conditions to bypass prosecution.
You intimated that you suffer from Aspergers yourself,therefore I can only offer my sincerest apologies if I offended you by my previous comments.

I am quite distressed at what I have read here. I am the Mother of two children with Asperger's Syndrome. It is a hereditary condition. My kids are younger than those described in the article and have never been in trouble with the police. However, the lack of understanding (as displayed here) from the public and education authorities is really quite astounding. Before you make comment may I suggest you read a little about the condition first.
I strongly suspect the girls are "behaving" now because someone has given them a diagnosis, they know why they are different and how they are different and have probably been shown how to fit into YOUR loving, caring and supportive neurotypical society. That would be the society that has ignored them up until things started to intrude upon them. I sincerely hope that those of you who have made negative comments have no autism in your families, or would your attitude change then?

HellBoy wrote:

Lily Anne Mitchel wrote:
This is a disgrace how ignorant this judge appears to be: people with Asperger\'s are born Autistic and can\'t help being the way they are (saying inappropriate things). If the girls had no support untill now, that means they\'ve had to suffer in silence and being misunderstood and quite probably taunted by unforgiving society. No wonder they\'d \'lashed out\'. I bet, there wasn\'t anyone protesting when their poor Mother was \'going it alone\' (and where\'s the girls\' father in all of this?) with no support from anybody for their condition! Like a pack of wolves some people are: they reap apart anyone who\'s \"different\".

Well,Lily Anne,as you seem to know so much about Aspergers Syndrome and are such an understanding caring individual,perhaps you should have these two little toerags move in with you so their neighbours can have a bit of peace and quiet.
And please do not try to lecture me about this particular condition,as a friend of mine had this condition and he never ever did anything to disrupt the lives of other people.
What these two little darlings need to do is keep off the beer and get jobs to keep them occupied...

to helboy just read your comment can you not read or sumat the have got a job think some people on hear need to get a life and find sumat better to do with their time than comment on other peoples lifes

just like to say thanks to everybody who understands autism and have wrote a good comment from sammie the twins sister

I can't say I understand aspergers(spelling) but I do have a friend who has it. And he's the nicest guy in the world, wouldn't say a bad thing to anyone and when he's had alot to drink just simply falls over and sleeps and wakes up with a headache like the rest of us.

These 2 girls can't blame drink as they were exactly the same at school (i went with them). So unless they were drunk at school (and if they were they can handle their drink well for such the little sticks they are as they had no problems balancing as they were beating people up) then alcohol isn't an excuse.

I live up Edgeside and got abuse not just from these girls, but their friends as well. They are just little terrors that need to grow up.

clydeiboy wrote:
Does their mother not think this has cost the tax payers enough they couldn\'t behave they should take the punishment and shut up

I'm sorry but why don't you just take a hint and shut up yourself, i'm their cousin and you don't think that sheila MY AUNTY! thought about the consequences of that might have happened because of this.
You just don't know what you're talking about!

Sarah wrote:
Katie said: `We've both started to sort our lives out - we have both got jobs now. Ashleigh said: "I think this is ridiculous. We don't want any more trouble." Oh, so now they want to, and now they know they are potentially in some serious trouble, they CAN behave? That doesn't sound like a couple of children who can't help what they are doing. It looks like two naughty girls (whose parents are condoning their feral behaviour) who realise they aren't going to get away with it any longer.

Look Sarah I know that it might be hard to believe that they could behave but unlike all of you that have been writing about them, no one knows Karie and Ashley like i do because i've already said this to someone else but i'm their cousin and Ashley stayed with me before the court hearing, and as for their parents i would stop blaming them for Katie and Ashley's troubles because they live with just one parent and their mother saw some changes in their behaviour when they turned 15 and my mother also thinks i've got aspergers so for everyone who thinks that it's an excuse, shut up and try to work with people who have because i might have it and i work with people who have it and autism + A.D.H.D.
So to all of you please just stop making horrible comments about them and leave them alone, they just want to start fresh again and you're all stopping them from doing it.

HellBoy wrote:

Lily Anne Mitchel wrote: This is a disgrace how ignorant this judge appears to be: people with Asperger's are born Autistic and can't help being the way they are (saying inappropriate things). If the girls had no support untill now, that means they've had to suffer in silence and being misunderstood and quite probably taunted by unforgiving society. No wonder they'd 'lashed out'. I bet, there wasn't anyone protesting when their poor Mother was 'going it alone' (and where's the girls' father in all of this?) with no support from anybody for their condition! Like a pack of wolves some people are: they reap apart anyone who's "different".

Well,Lily Anne,as you seem to know so much about Aspergers Syndrome and are such an understanding caring individual,perhaps you should have these two little toerags move in with you so their neighbours can have a bit of peace and quiet. And please do not try to lecture me about this particular condition,as a friend of mine had this condition and he never ever did anything to disrupt the lives of other people. What these two little darlings need to do is keep off the beer and get jobs to keep them occupied...

Well I'm sorry hellboy most people who have aspergers don't all act the same, so here's an idea for you all go on the internet and type in www.actionforasd.co.
uk that webstite will tell everything you need to know autism, a.d.h.d and aspergers and i should know because i work there.
So i said this to one person take a hint and shut up!

Aspidistra wrote:
Dear Hellboy, Yes, you are quite correct; wikipedia does refer to academic/medical research that concluded Asperger's Syndrome people are not predisposed to criminal behaviour. In fact, those with AS are more often the victims of crime, victims of bullying and assaults and so on (also on wikipedia). Which kind of fits in with the way these girls have been ostracised by the local community. Nice way to treat vulnerable young people. Good to know that 'Care in the Community' is working. So anyway, yes, you're completely correct to say Aspies are not predisposed to criminal behaviour. If they're not criminally inclined, if their intentions weren't to commit crime, but perhaps they misunderstood boundaries, or perhaps responded inappropriately to certain situations, don't you think it's inappropriate to criminalise them for having a non-typical mindset, which the medical profession recognises as being disabled? Criminalising an Aspie for anti-social behaviour is a bit like criminalising a dyslexic for not being able to spell. Having said that Aspies are not pre-disposed to criminal behaviour, that's not to say that Aspies will never act in a way whereby a crime takes place. This can be inadvertent and unintentional. Aspies can act inappropriately and their behaviour can cross boundaries. For example, I'm Aspie, and if people innocently touch me (I'm fairly non-tactile) I can totally freak out and lash out, and in the past I have done. Can you imagine how terrifying it might be, to have community ASBO officers and police officers grab hold of you if you freak out when you're touched by people you don't know?

Hi there when you typed Aspies you are almost sounding like you are calling all people who have aspergers freaks?
Really it sounds like you are saying that people with aspergers are a different race and we don't sound normal. And when i said "we" i'm not just pointing this at katie and Ashley i'm also pointing at every person with aspergers and i can give you just 1 example.... ME!!!!!

asleigh and katie deserve wat they get,being mean 2 kids under there age. pethetic . they wouldnt like it people did it to them would they? so they should think things through before doing it.

i think every1 shud get on wit ther own lives now GET ova it it ova and done wit!!! god u lot must av boarin lives!!!!!