WORCESTER News readers have hit out at the leniency of a sentence given to a man who stabbed his wife in the back.

The paper recently reported on Mark Smith, of Holt Fleet Caravan Park, being given a 12 month jail sentence, suspended for 12 months, after admitting unlawful and malicious wounding and possession of a knife.

Judge Daniel Pearce-Higgins said the 66-year-old snapped in the attack in which Smith stabbed her multiple times, and there was some pre-meditation as he took a knife. But the judge said he also recognised that the stabbing had not been with force, and Smith had admitted the crime to police in the 999 call he made.

He gave Smith the suspended sentence as well as ordering him to complete 20 rehabilitation days, and to take a 'better relationships' course. Smith was also given a five year restraining order.

But readers were critical of the sentencing on Worcester News' social media.

David Lane said: "Suspended sentence? Worcester’s gone mad, or at least the courts have," while Christopher Dennis said: "Wow - what does a person need to do to go to prison these days".

Anna James said: "Unbelievable", while Toyah Murtaza said: "What's going on with the system lately, why aren't these people going to jail."

Caroline Dodds wrote: "What is going on in the past few weeks all I've seen are folk committing crimes and getting away with them lightly.

"Yes prisons are full but these folk are on our streets, still able to live life what about the victims."

And Ursula Chamberlain added: "This is absolutely horrendous the way it’s been dealt with.

"He said he was going to kill her then told police he just wanted to scare her.

"I am absolutely disgusted."

READ MORE: Mark Smith given suspended jail sentence after admitting stabbing wife in a 'crime of passion'