IT LEAVES one truly aghast that the perpetrator of the in-flight drunken brawl was given a suspended sentence.

Yes, it was fortunate there were off-duty officers on board to assist at the time, but should that make the sentence any less? I have no doubt the officers that day and all the innocent, terrified people on board were appalled at the sentence.

To butt a young lad on the streets of Bournemouth in a drunken stupor would in itself carry a jail term, so to let someone off doing just that and more on a flight and not getting ‘banged up’ surely beggars belief?

Thomson Airways quotes a zero tolerance policy with regard to disruptive behaviour on flights. This should be supported 100 per cent by the judiciary by way of a statutory jail term to absolutely deter others.

BILL EVANS, address supplied