Claims university sex assault sentence too tough for '20 minutes of action'

The father of a former Stanford University student sentenced to six months in jail for sexual assault believes his son deserves a lighter punishment for his crime.

Brock Turner was found guilty last week of sexually assaulting an intoxicated, unconscious woman in 2015.

Two male students found Turner on top of the female behind a bin near a fraternity house.

He claims she consented to sex and was awake throughout the incident.

Following the sentencing, his father Dan A. Turner wrote a letter to Judge Aaron Persky, explaining how the incident had affected his son.

He says his son has been off his food since the assault.

Click to see the letter in full.

Dan A. Turner's letter was shared on Twitter by Michelle Dauber, a Stanford law professor who helped revise the university's sexual assault policy.

"These verdicts have broken and shattered him and our family in so many ways," he wrote.

"His life will never be the one that he dreamed about and worked so hard to achieve.

"That is a steep price to pay for 20 minutes of action out of his 20 plus years of life."

He claims his son is now committed to educating students on the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption and "sexual promiscuity" and is calling for a more lenient sentence.

"Probation is the best answer for Brock in this situation and allows him to give back to society in a net positive way."

Singer KT Tunstall says any institution who welcomes him should be "named and shamed".

A second letter shared by Michelle Dauber, written by Leslie Rasmussen, highlights apparent victim shaming, calling for courts to stop "worrying about politically correct".

Stanford University is one of the top three universities in the world

Dan A. Turner's letter comes after the victim of the attack read a lengthy, emotional statement to the court revealing how her life had been affected by the assault and her treatment during her trial.

It's strongly worded and graphic in places and has gone viral.

"According to him, the only reason we were on the ground was because I fell down," she told the court.

"Note; if a girl falls down help her get back up.

"If she is too drunk to even walk and falls down, do not mount her, hump her, take off her underwear, and insert your hand inside her vagina."

She also states that during the trial, questions were focused on her own behaviour and clothing on the night of the incident.

Brock Turner must complete a sex offender management programme and register as a convicted sex offender for the rest of his life.

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