Commendation? They Deserve Condemnation!

Judge Stokes said Penny presented a “significant risk” to the public.

“You overreact to events that most people would simply shrug off,” the judge said. The judge publicly commended Pc Gary Dickinson, whose hunch led him to believe Penny was responsible for the attack.

And why did a 'hunch' make him suspect Penny? Well, it wasn't that much of a hunch, really...

Penny was previously cautioned for an incident which involved punching children in the face and throwing them into a canal, the court heard.

His convictions include common assault, involving an argument with a man in the same park and threatening him with a Swiss Army knife, in 2010.

So, basically, it was a case of PC Dickson thinking 'Hmmm, might it be that explosive nutcase we previously did sod-all about...?'

In mitigation, Walter Bealby, said psychiatric reports indicated Penny was of “limited intellect”.

Almost as limited as the authorities that allow such people to remain at large, maybe?

He said: “When Penny observed him leaving a gate open, that’s a breach of the countryside code and to Penny, with the way he thinks, it was a much more serious matter than it would be for someone else.

“He comes from a good family and his mother, a midwife, is in court. She’s a devoted mother and is distraught about the situation her son is in.”

A bit of remorse about the situation his victim's in wouldn't come amiss...