Comment: Punishment does not fit the crime

It's hardly surprising that Ryan Thomas, who scarred a female police officer for life in a drunken brawl, was smirking as he left court yesterday.

He received 80 hours of community service and he was ordered to pay £500 as compensation to PC Gemma Maggs.

He also received an 18-week prison sentence but crucially, this was suspended for 12 months, meaning that this morning, he will wake up at his home in Horfield and he will be able to go about his business.

PC Maggs will wake up every day for the rest of her life to be reminded of the moment Thomas decided to take a swing at her, leaving her with a gaping wound from her forehead to her nose.

Thomas also has a a previous conviction for an attack on a woman, yet the magistrates felt it was not necessary to give him a custodial sentence.

And to make matters worse, rather than take responsibility for what he did, Thomas blamed the incident on the drink and on some story that allegations had been made against him.

In the meantime, at the same court yesterday, Lewey Spencer was given an identical amount of community service but a considerably more hefty fine for graffiti offences.

It is not being suggested that Spencer's punishment is too lenient – far from it – but it does seem to send out a remarkable message about how the courts view different crimes.

Justice is not just about punishing offenders. It is about reassuring the public that dangerous people will be taken off the streets.

For the second time in four years, Thomas has proved that he is dangerous. His sentence is not appropriate.