14.12. Vocabulary. Crimes and offences. Put them into order of seriousness. Number one is the crime that will get you the most years in prison. Obviously there will be some slight differences of opinion, depending on the nature of the crime that we are imagining. Court sentencing guidelines function on a points system; the crime is given a certain number and then further points are added or taken away depending on the factors of the individual case.

 

1 high treason (a crime against the state or the government or monarch. Extremely serious. Could mean life imprisonment.) Washington and Co. will be looking at ten years each after upsetting the proposed royal marriage.

9 illegal gaming (if we are imagining getting caught for gambling amongst a private group then you can expect a large fine. If we are talking about making money out of a third party, then there will certainly be a sentence of several years.) Have you forgotten what  Washington was doing in chapter one? He wanted the students to start an illegal gambling racket. Disgraceful.

2 hijack (to take control of an aircraft or vehicle; again could lead to life imprisonment.) Taking that underground will get the Washington Gang seven years each.

10 criminal damage (the value of the damage done is to be taken into consideration. Expect a heavy fine). Have you seen the state of that squat that Washington and those girls live in? It’s disgusting what they’ve done to the council’s property.

3 kidnap (literally- the theft of a person. So serious that it could get you fifteen years in prison.) Washington’s kidnap of the Ticket Inspector will get him about ten years.

11 indecent exposure (the important factor is probably who the victims are and their number) The filthy language that Washington teaches his students in chapter fifteen should get him locked up.

4 perverting the course of justice (This would depend on the seriousness of the case. You should expect years in prison.) We can’t remember exactly what Washington did, but we are sure he is guilty of it.

12 breaking and entering (here you will receive a fine or punishment such as community service. If you are sent to prison, it will be for several months.) He broke into that squat too. He must be guilty.

5 blackmail (expect jail) Guilty without doubt!

13 unlawful entry(like the above, without doing damage)

6 corruption of minors (again you’ll be off to jail) That Maria must be underage.

14 hooliganism (you would have to do something terrible to get sent to prison for this. You are more likely to just get a fine.) Is the Pope catholic? Is cricket English? Is Washington guilty?

7 assault (you might escape a prison sentence if it’s your first offence, but you will receive a quite severe punishment) Do you remember what happened to poor François in chapter three.

15 fare evasion on a London Underground train (there is a maximum fine of £1000 for this offence!) He forced the other eight people to not pay too. By my calculations that’s an £8000 fine for Washington.

8 fraud (this will be directly proportional to the amount of money that you have attempted to defraud) Lock them up!

16 disturbing the peace (this mild offence will get you a small fine) Lock him up in the name of decency. Let us have a little peace now!