A THUG launched a sickening attack on a bus passenger who asked him to take his feet of the seats.
Anthony Riley, 20, repeatedly punched 63-year-old John McAllister, injuring his face and body.
Mr McAllister was left with a badly swollen eye, a bloody nose as well as cuts and bruises.
His attacker fled, leaving Mr McAllister sprawled on his back on the 256 bus in the city centre.
A judge described the attack as `truly appalling' when Riley appeared before Manchester magistrates' court - but decided not to send him to prison.
District Judge Nicholas Sanders gave Riley a four-month suspended prison sentence and ordered him to pay his victim £400 compensation.
The judge told Riley, of Stockport Road, Longsight: "This was a cowardly attack on an old man and you should be thoroughly ashamed of yourself."
'Truly appalling'
Riley had pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr McAllister on June 25, causing him actual bodily harm.
He was also given a 16-week 6pm-6am curfew and ordered to pay £85 costs.
Prosecutor Gareth Hughes said Mr McAllister had asked Riley three times to take his feet off the seats before being attacked.
"Riley swore and then lashed out, striking the victim several times," said Mr Hughes.
Afterwards Riley fled and jumped on to another bus in the city centre but he was spotted by a witness and arrested.
Vanessa Shaw, defending, said Riley accepted there had been no justification for his behaviour.
The court heard that last November he had been given a police caution for common assault.
When the M.E.N visited Riley at his home, he refused to comment.
Wearing an England football shirt, he answered the door but our reporter was told by a grey-haired older man there was no comment.
Mr McAllister declined to comment on the attack.
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Rick, Stockport, Stockport (19/09/2009 at 09:22)
PW, Manchester (19/09/2009 at 09:27)
Squire of Newton, Newton nr. Hyde (19/09/2009 at 09:34)
Scum like riley should be strung up and left to the mercy of the gathering crowds.
Bejjy ex Salford now Malta, Malta (19/09/2009 at 09:45)
Local lad, outsidethebox (19/09/2009 at 09:57)
cutiepie, Manchester (19/09/2009 at 10:26)
Come on.............. he walks away with a £85 fine and a curfew no way it's time Manchester people took back their city and got these thugs locked away for good. The justice system is showing no justice and having worked in the legal system for over twenty years I am disgusted.
George Kane, Stretford (19/09/2009 at 11:04)
Billy Meredith's toothpick, leafy Cheadle (19/09/2009 at 11:25)
PO (19/09/2009 at 11:32)
MPs gravy train, UK (19/09/2009 at 11:35)
We spend more and more on police that spend all day chasing the same 5% of the population that cause the bother. Spend a few more billions on some more prisons so we can lock em up. We can then reduce the police budgets and that would pay for the prisons. We could also reduce court costs too. Oh and lets make prisoners families pay to feed them or give them gruel. Simple.
tinawendy (19/09/2009 at 12:06)
The Horse, Cheadle (19/09/2009 at 12:07)
tinawendy (19/09/2009 at 12:07)
red (19/09/2009 at 12:34)
Red or Dead, Manchester (19/09/2009 at 13:17)
Blip, Manchester (19/09/2009 at 13:40)
Suspended sentence? Unbelievable!
Time for ordinary people to start taking the law into their own hands, because it would seem that the law has deserted them. They evidently have no protection from the scum of society. I would have cheered if this poor man had whipped out a knife in self-defence and stabbed this dog-faced pondlife.
Pandora (19/09/2009 at 13:47)
minority report, Manchester (19/09/2009 at 14:27)
A judge described the attack as `truly appalling', then sentenced him as though it was a minor indiscretion. Essentially, all this thug got was a £400 fine. Cheating the taxman would bring a much larger fine, and very probably a prison sentence. Even breaking one of the thousands of new laws, like misuse of wheelie-bins or smoking in a pub, could get you more than this.
What sort of compensation is £400 for being badly beaten? Who would regard that as fair to the victim or severe enough for the criminal? Clearly, our judges and the Government do. The judge said Riley should be thoroughly ashamed of himself. So should the judge.
wolftone, salford (19/09/2009 at 14:34)
Casablanca, ex-Bury Road Convent, Rochdale (19/09/2009 at 14:46)
Even though I am a woman, if I had been on that bus, Riley would have found it difficult to escape with his crown jewels still intact.
phil m, cumbria (19/09/2009 at 14:47)
John Bull, Manchester (19/09/2009 at 14:59)
I agree, Blip. Unfortunately, if he had done this, he would probably have been prosecuted and sent to prison. While the system does not protect innocent people from assault, it will take strong action if they defend themselves in ways it considers "unfair" to the attacker.
tameside mark, hyde (19/09/2009 at 15:18)
he must be a mason to receive such a lenient sentence
mark
Bigmouth strikes again, Manchester (19/09/2009 at 15:19)
Knowall, stretford end (19/09/2009 at 15:20)
But I have given up on asking people to take their feet off the seats on Buses after the other week when on First Bus one of their employees had his feet on the seats, so if they do it.......