Justice for Josh Morgan: Anger at sentencing grows as thousands call for justice
"Despicable, disgraceful, disgusting." These are some of the views of the thousands of people who believe that justice for Josh Morgan has not been served.
Within two days of its launch, more than 2,500 people have signed a petition calling for the sentences of James Robb and Alistair Douglas to be increased.
The pair were last week sentenced to three years and two years and three months respectively after being found guilty of inflicting grievous bodily harm on Josh Morgan in March 2014.
And now thousands of people from across the UK and as far away as Australia have joined together to express their disappointment at the length of the jail terms.
The overwhelming verdict from the petition's signatories is clear: justice has not been done.
'Please make it longer'
Josh's brother Ethan made an emotional plea for the attackers to be given the sentences "they deserve".
Ethan said: "Josh is my brother and it is such a hard thing to do to get through this and is so emotional and it's a disgrace what they done to my brother.
"They have no idea what it's like to go through this they deserve longer cause Josh has to put up with not doing what he was doing. So I am positive that I think they should have a lot longer and there are so many people absalutaly loads that would agree. Please make it longer and give them what they deserve."
Lee Sumner, who was working as a security guard at the Bank Bar on the night of the attack, described the guilty pair as cocky and arrogant.
He said: "Unfornatley I was 1 of the doormen who kicked the pair out of bank bar in Cannock town centre the night they did what they did to josh I watched them walk across to the car park laughing to each other."
'Kind, sensitive and an amazing heart'
Hundreds of Cannock residents have signed the petition and paid tribute to Josh's kind personality.
Emily Harris said that having known Josh for a long time she knew him to be a "kind and sensitive person who had an amazing heart".
She said: "His life has been affected forever yet those two people who have no heart, whether they had been influenced by alcohol or not, have been given a few months! Whether they show remorse or not, the fact that they could even consider doing this to poor Josh is not human and is sickening. What happened to respecting others...do you honestly reckon they would have changed in a few months... I think not!"
Family friend Tracy Boswell echoed these sentiments, saying: "Iv known Josh since he was four, best friend of my son, anyone who knew Josh previous to this vile attack would know what a lovely funny lad he was, they v taken everything apart from the love of his family and friends away.
"We have Josh back home, but his life or his family will never be the same. These two thugs will be out by next summer getting on with there lives .
"I went to one of the previous hearings with Clare and I watched there families, I saw no remorse when they came out of court, stood laughing with there barrister. Please re think this sentence."
Anna-lee Colley said:"Josh was always a kind hearted person always with a smile on his face. He looked after everyone and put everyone before him. Now his life has changed and to me justice has not been served... My love is with Josh and his family."
'This is not justice'
Hundreds have criticised the punishment for being out of proportion with the crime.
Elaine Parmenter questioned the message that the sentence sent out to other would-be attackers.
She said: "The sentences are too lenient for the crime committed. A young boy has had his life changed forever, through no fault of his own, purely because two thugs decided to carry out an unprovoked attack.
"What sort of message does this give to others who think they will randomly commit a violent act to an innocent person? the sentences imposed should be a deterrent to others, not an insult to Josh and his family."
Several people, such as Mark Birch from Wednesbury, pointed out how short the sentences are compared to those given for non-violent crimes.
Mark argued that the country 'had gone soft', saying: "Can't believe the sentences given out to scum like this. Drug dealers, fraudsters etc get a longer sentence. This young mans life has been ruined."
Meanwhile Alexandra Wilson was one of many who said that Robb and Douglas should have been tried for attempted murder, describing the sentences as "disgustingly short".
'He should be ashamed'
Judge Jonathan Gosling, who sentenced Robb and Douglas, was singled out for criticism by many signatories.
Ed Grimley said he "would love to hear" the judge's explanation, while Paul Holford and Barbara Allatt went further, telling Judge Gosling that he should be ashamed of himself.
Jim Uppal from Dudley questioned whether Judge Gosling had taken all relevant factors into account.
He said: "This is no justice at all. Not only does Joshua have a life sentence imposed upon him as a result of his injuries. To a degree so too does his family.
Did the judge not consider Joshua's quality of life/ If so, only lip service was paid by the judge.
Sadly, it appears, the statutory maximum is 5 years.
My heart goes out to Joshua his family and friends."
