People are sick to the back teeth of drunken yobs making other people's lives a misery. So the decision by Judge George Moorhouse to sentence a gang of loutish Billingham teenagers to a bout of hard labour is to be applauded.
The foul, abusive antics of the four lads and a girl which were described at Teesside Crown Court, is the sort of anti-social behaviour that is becoming disturbingly familiar on our streets.
And if by handing out maximum Community Punishment orders, the message is sent out that this sort of drunken thuggery will not be tolerated, it can only be for the good.
What is essential is that these teenagers serve their sentences in full.
Perhaps while they go about their work they will have time to consider their behaviour and make sure that shouting and swearing, thumping and kicking police officers, and generally acting like imbeciles is something not to be repeated.
Judge Moorhouse acted on behalf of every decent citizen when he said this sort of behaviour from drunken teenagers caused fear and so they must be taught to behave.
What is needed is more of the same. Slapping community orders on drunken yobs not only teaches a lesson and sends out a message - it ensures some good comes of the bad.
