Mum's fury at gang sentence
A Wigan woman has criticised the sentences given to a gang who attacked her and her husband when she was seven months' pregnant.
Leanne McFarlane voiced her anger about the punishment meted out to the three young men from Worsley Mesnes involved in the street attack, which left her needing hospital treatment.
Andrew Charles Robson, 20, of Fisher Close, Scott Craig Heaton, 19, of St Paul's Avenue, and Adam Cunliffe, 18, of Cornwallis Road, were pleaded guilty to affray at Liverpool Crown Court on November 20.
Robson and Heaton received 12-month supervision orders while Cunliffe was sent to a youth institution for 12 months after also being convicted of another offence.
Mrs McFarlane, 31, believes the sentences will not deter others from committing similar crimes. The mum-of-two, who recently gave birth to son, Scott, said: "I feel let down by the justice system.
"This attack could have caused serious damage to my child. Luckily Scott is fine, but I question whether this sentence will stop other people behaving like this."
Mrs McFarlane and her husband Scott, 32, were attacked close to their home in Masefield Drive, Worsley Mesnes, in April.
The couple were hit with broken fence panels after a row with members of a well-known gang.
Mrs McFarlane says she had stood up to the gang after her cousin's stepsister had been threatened by them.
She believes many Worsley Mesnes residents feel terrorised in their own neighbourhood and is urging people to stand up to those causing threatening or anti-social behaviour.
Mrs McFarlane added: "People who live in this neighbourhood shouldn't let gangs intimidate them.
"We need to stand up and refuse to accept this sort of behaviour, especially after this attack which could have damaged my baby.
"My family was threatened while this case was going on, but we're not going to let people intimidate us."
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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