The comments of Judge Austin Izzard-Davies while sentencing Cassie Watts for her attack on a woman who had mugged her have given great offence to the residents of Whitehawk.
His suggestion that Whitehawk is notorious for vigilante activity is positively slanderous to residents of that community, particularly when there has been a steady improvement in crime figures and in public safety there in recent years.
The residents of Whitehawk are as law-abiding as the rest of the city's. The judge clearly does not actually know Whitehawk and is simply retailing old prejudices received at second-hand.
The public is entitled to expect better from those who sit in judgement on the bench.
Brighton Kemptown,
-Preston Road, Brighton
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article