Fury at attacker's lenient sentence
The family of a Northamptonshire teenager who was the victim of a vicious assault have criticised the lenient sentence given to his attacker.
They are calling for a change in the law after Simon Englefield, 17, was left with two metal plates in a broken jaw.
His attacker was given a 100 fine and a 36-month supervision order after being charged with grievous bodily harm.
But because the case was dealt with in the youth court Mr Englefield cannot appeal against the sentence, despite the Solicitor General agreeing that she believes it was soft.
Simon, of the Croyland estate in Wellingborough, underwent four hours ofsurgery to repair the damage to his jaw.
The incident in Croyland Gardens, Wellingborough, also left him mentally scarred and afraid to go out in the town.
He said: "I was battered and bruised for weeks. Now I don't like going out."
The family feel the sentence and the way the case was dealt with is unacceptable.
They had expected to attend a trial, but on October 24 they learned the attacker had changed his plea to guilty and had already been sentenced on October 8.
They decided to write a letter appealing against it as unduly lenient, but it was only when they contacted their MP, Peter Bone, that they found there was no right of appeal for victims in a youth court.
Simon's dad, David, said: "It has been a shambles from the beginning. We have been victims all the way along. It's an injustice to Simon.
"The main thing is the law has to be changed. The defendants get all the support, and the victims get nothing."
Mr Bone said: "It is completely ludicrous that if this chap had been sentenced in an adult court they could have appealed to have the sentence reviewed for being unduly lenient. In future if there is a terrible attack like this we want to make sure the perpetrator is sentenced correctly."
Mr Bone raised the matter with the Solicitor General in the House of Commons.
Talking in Parliament, he said: "Will the Solicitor General consider extending the rules to the youth courts?"
Vera Baird, Solicitor General, responded and said: "The honourable gentleman makes a very good point, and we should reflect on it."
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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