THE sentencing of the Birmingham City fan who attacked an Aston Villa footballer on the pitch dominated the news in the Midlands yesterday, and one point raised was whether a prison term was justified for the assault.
Paul Mitchell, 27, was sentenced to 14 weeks in prison when he appeared at Birmingham Magistrates' Court yesterday, after he admitted assault and encroachment on to the pitch.
Mitchell, of Rubery, Worcestershire, hit Villa captain Jack Grealish from behind on the pitch at St Andrew's about 10 minutes into Sunday's game.
Most people agreed with the decision to jail Mitchell, and I believe that anyone who randomly attacks someone they don't know without any justification should be imprisoned.
Everyone – whether a famous footballer, lawyer, postman or whatever their job – has the right to go about their life without fearing they could be attacked by a stranger, and jailing those who carry out such assaults sends a message that they won't be tolerated and thus, hopefully, acts as a deterrent.
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