Different rules?

Since neither comments have (thankfully) been published, it is impossible forus todetermine the relative seriousness for ourselves.

There may be differences which depend on a number of factors. In no particular order:

Age of defendant. Early guilty plea. Remorse or not. Previous offences of a similar nature. Whether defendant was subject to a bail condition at the time. Racially aggravated. On a breach of the peace order at the time. Mitigation due to mental state. Prevelance of a type of offence in a locality.

I am not saying any of these were pertinent to the individual but they are some of the reasons why people committing similar offences get different sentences.

Sentencing remarks of District Judge Goodwin

http://www.judiciary.gov.uk/Resources/JCO/Documents/Judgments/azhar-ahmed-sentencing-remarks-09102012.pdf

He got off far too lightly in my opinion.

Tried to get them for you Charly but unfortunately it was not possible:

"I'm afraid sentencing remarks aren't available in Michael Woods case - it's very unusual to have them in Mags' Court cases." Judicial Office.

Slightly different case but did anyone see on the news about the police officer who was charged and convicted of physically abusing a 15 yo boy? He was sentenced to jail time, but suspended. Practically legalised thuggery by some members of the police.

Back to the two cases, both despicable acts. Regarding the case of the lad rubbishing the soldiers, very wrong indeed, he was targeting his anger of the killing of innocent people in Pakistan/Afghanistan, at the wrong people. His anger should be targeted at the politicians who send the soldiers over there, and who order the bombing of people by the cowardly means of drones, not the soldiers who are fighting a lost cause and losing their lives for it. It is ok to oppose military operations but it is not ok in my opinion to have ago at the soldiers, especially when making the ultimate sacrifice of death.

Personally I do not think that either case warranted prison but instead a long period of community service would be more beneficial to society especially as non of them are dangerous or violent people.

UP THE DALE wrote:Slightly different case but did anyone see on the news about the police officer who was charged and convicted of physically abusing a 15 yo boy? He was sentenced to jail time, but suspended. Practically legalised thuggery by some members of the police.

I saw the CCTV video on the news just now. This happened in March of last year and it seems strange that the other three "laughing constables" shown on it haven't already been disciplined. Sick or what? The defence lawyer stated in court that PC Hudson had now quit-resigned from the GMP, before the judge announced he was giving him a 'suspended' sentence. I wonder just how long he was suspended for on his full salary, before he resigned. There was no order made for cost or compensation. The length of time it takes for cases to go to Trial seems to be a real problem.

Indeed, scandalous amount of time. He should have been sacked, but I suppose if he resigns he will be able to keep his pension. Would he have kept his pension if sacked? Amazing how quickly justice is served when it's an ordinary person or youth, but when it's an officer of the law justice takes ages allowing the officer to receive his salary for all that time. All are supposed to be equal under the law, but it's just not the case.