To feel sorry for (and think the punishment is too long) for the 18 year old who threw the fire extinguisher in the protests

[LaurieFairyonthetreeEatsCake]

2 years, 8 months in jail

here

That's a looooong time. Is the reasoning supposed to be that it's a deterrent?

There are people with asbo's who cause no end of trouble and don't get sentences like this.

macmama - He is a menace to society, he thinks its acceptable to do things that may very easily kill others. What do you consider to not be menacing about that?

I do find it odd that so many on here passionately defending the length of sentence don?t seem to respond/start threads about the more lenient sentences given to so other dangerous criminals on a daily basis in this country.

I am not saying that one justifies the other or vice versa I am just not into people being made media/govt scapegoats tis all.

Pootles calm down. Like most of the protestors on the roof that day he was young, naive and riled up and acting in the heat of the moment. He won?t be the first or last 18 year old male to act recklessly/dangerously in the heat of the moment.

I very much doubt he is likely to do it again with or without a 3 year sentence. Drunk drivers and serial child abusers on the other hand... well.

upahill. 'that bastard'should have got 10-15 years!

This is clearly one of those threads (which MN does so well!) in which nobody else is allowed to hold a different view other than ?yes 3 years was right? or ?the bastard should have got longer?.

So that?s me off this thread as every response seems to want to have an argument and I really don?t want an argument just wanted to give my opinion. Seriously!

So we aren't allowed to point out flaws in your opinion?

Flaws in your view. Its just my opinion!

So he gets such a long sentence because he could have killed someone?

A driver speeding could hit someone....
A Youf carrying a knife could stab someone...

COULD does not sem to apply to anyother crimes.

he was lucky that was all, it was pure luck that he didn't kill someone.

DrNortherner I'd imagine part of the reason for the long sentence is that he was trying to hurt someone.

Fair point there.

smallwhitecat my point was that the criminal justice system is often an ass but that does not mean its wrong when occasionally someone gets an appropriate sentence as in this case. Sentences are often far too light for violent crime so its good to see this idiot being punished adequately.

HE COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE.

So it was pre-crime?
How about the policeman that bashed a kid over the head with a baton, hsopitalising him?
No pre-crime there, clearly.
Or the cavalry that charged the kids minding their own business at 4pm, as seen on BBC News.
No pre-crime there, either.
Bloddy funny justice system we have.

Yabu............... He did a stupid reckless thing and he is lucky he didnt kill someone!!!

The irony is that the cost of his incarceration would pay his fees several times over.

What he did was completely irresponsible...whether he is just a silly lad or an evil young man we will never know.

If he is the former, the sentence does seem a bit long because he would probably never do it again.

Talking to police is interesting because they say that for many teenagers (who have done something stupid), just one visit to the police station and a phonecall to parents scares them off trouble for life!

boffinmum So would you say the problem is that their sentences are too short, or his is too long?

I thought that the Times leader today nailed it. Yes, he should get a custodial sentence. But equally those in charge of the protest should also be held accountable. The real rabble-rousers know how to avoid getting into trouble - they rely on others who are more naive to do so.

I feel a little sorry for him too. I have teens - it's easy to see how he got caught up in the moment, he was foolish, no scratch that he was unbelievably stupid. But I think the sentence is a little long especially in comparison to some handed out when death and injury have actually occurred.

My ds was the victim of a knife crime, probably preplanned. The perpetrator got away with alot less than the student.

Soooo if he killed someone with the extinguisher....would you want to excuse him from jail BECAUSE HE'S A TEENAGER? He's old enough to have a say in how this country is run.

Do you not believe that 18 years old is OLD enough to KNOW not to throw objects at unsuspecting victims?

If he killed someone I would expect him to get the appropriate sentence. Of course.

But he didn't kill anyone so the question is whether he got the approprite sentence for this crime.

Hmmm well that's like arguing that the INTENT to rape and raping don't both deserve harsh penalties...

If the INTENT is there, then surely the INTENT will rise again.

I'd rather he be behind bars, than to join in with the next ILLEGAL protest and INTEND to hurt someone.

Did he intend to kill?

ladyofthemanor has it spot on

Why else would you throw a heavy object at a crowd?? He at least intended to hurt.