One rule for the rich.......

Oh really - this is too much. How can they justify such leniency for an unprovoked attack? If I were the CPS I would launch an appeal against the sentence. It really does make you feel that there has been a bit of cash changing hands here - not what we want to even consider in the justice system.

The sentence should be challenged and I hope it is. We all know that had those thugs not come from a rich family, the sentencing would have been very different. Maybe they need to rename the justice system ...

I do hope the sentence is challenged. What kind of justice is this?

No kind of justice at all. Those sentences should not be suspended, the fact that the matter was sent to the Crown Court indicates that the lower court felt that their powers of sentencing were insufficient.

Yet another example of how some are more equal than others.

My question is how can there be any respect for the laws of the land from 'Joe Public' if this is continues. it certainly makes an ass of the law and us, the people who pay for the justice system. I bet the barristers they had were from the top drawer too!

I wonder why they were charged with affray and not assault. Perhaps the sentence reflects the charge?

No legal aid to worry about either

I wondered that too JaneA. Possibly because the CPS is chronically underfunded and charging decisions are frequently taken by relatively inexperienced staff. The sentencing guideline for serious affray is 18 weeks to Crown Court. Clearly, the court below felt that their powers of sentencing were insufficient with a maximum of six months and were of the opinion that a more severe custodial sentence would be appropriate. Even with a guilty plea, which reduces the sentence by a third, this seems lenient in the extreme.

They pleaded down to a lesser charge of affray. The happens all the time, not just to the rich.

That's true. If there are alternative charges the CPS are more than happy to accept a guilty plea to the lesser charge in the interests of saving money by not prosecuting a not guilty plea to the more serious charge. Still, in this case the sentence from the CC seems very lenient.

On Crimewatch the other night they did an update. A man convicted of an assault, likewise got a suspended sentence but another was jailed for theft.

Stealing money is worse than kicking someone's head in. The law is truly an ass.

(Who said that?)

Totally disgraceful sentence I do hope it is appealed against and another bad mark for Liverpool when in fact they don't even live in the area, they have with the backing money from their father been able to open a venue that unless you are a second rate Celebrity you stand no chance of being admitted to.Not that it would be of interest to me or mine.