THE report of a man who hurled racist abuse at a mother and son and left the woman needing medical treatment generated strong views in yesterday's paper.

Many felt the sentence, 12 months, suspended for two years, with a community order, was too lenient.

Dale Hart, aged 29, of Grantchester Way, Breightmet received his suspended sentence for affray and a racially aggravated common assault.

M82ryan said: "Shocking sentence just another case of the punishment be weak when incidents of such kind should be hit hard as a deterrent to others that such things will not be tolerated.

"Seems at the moment its ok to walk around landing out at people."

1962 The Pivotal Year said: "I would ask if this is a joke if it were not such a shocking and abhorrent crime. How the hell does the unprovoked attack like this on a son and his mother with contributory blatant racism warrant a suspended sentence! This just makes a total mockery of the justice system."

Arthur Writus also commented on the state of the justice system saying "something is seriously wrong".

jus' visitin commented: "How far does someone have to go these days to receive a prison sentence? The ruling on this case is an absolute joke and just sends the message that you can go around knocking seven bells out of people and get away with it. Shocking!"

Mystery1972 said: "Absolutely ridiculous sentence, he should definitely have gone to Prison. To many low life scum bags walking our streets! The Prisons must definitely be full or the justice system has gone soft."

just_a_mo agreed saying: "The government should get its act together and build more prisons." They added that the case was a "farce".