Echo Opinion: We need to get tough on assaults

IT MUST be on the minds of every parent as they said goodbye to their teenage and young adult children as they went out over the Christmas period.

Will they come home in one piece or could they be assaulted for no good reason.

A misspoken word, a stolen glance in the wrong direction all can have tragic consequences.

All it takes is one punch or one stabbing movement for everything to change.

We have often reported on the most vicious assaults, which can happen for as little as the theft of a mobile phone. Certain sectors of our community think its ok to kick a man unconscious for a wallet or a mobile phone.

While the victim trys to put their life back together, the assailant gets the assistance of every arm of the state to aid their “rehabilitation”.

And the taxpayer foots the bill. More often than not, they get the best legal advice, the top criminal briefs, who can talk about their client’s difficult background, lack of role models etc. I have never understood what this has to do with kicking people in the head.

It’s called a plea in mitigation and they generally throw everything into the blender.

It would be quite common for defendants prior to sentencing to join sports clubs, help out with coaching, to put a positive slant on a probation report.

The Judges of our republic need to get tough on sentencing for assaults. Imprisonment has to be a deterrent.

Coming from “a difficult background” or “ a good family” should have nothing to do with it.