LUFC Bates Slams Judge For Lenient Sentence

Leeds United chairman Ken Bates has launched a scathing criticism of the district judge for only sentencing the Leeds fan who slapped Sheffield Wednesday Chris Kirkland, to four months in prison.

21-year-old Aaron Cawley was sentenced on Monday at Sheffield Magistrates Court, just three days after the incident on Friday.

Whilst Bates was full of praise for the Police, he feels the sentence given to Cawley was far too lenient and compared it to the person who swam in the Thames earlier this year, causing disruption to the Oxford v Cambridge boat race.

Speaking on Yorkshire Radio, Bates said, "I was surprised. The person who jumped in the Thames and buggered up the boat race, they only dealt with him last week and the event happened in the Spring.

"He committed the offence on Friday, he was identified and arrested on Saturday and brought immediately to Yorkshire spent the weekend in a Police cell.

"That was great and congratulations to the Police but a scathing criticism for the district judge who only gave him 16 weeks. It is a disgrace.

"The guy who jumped in the Thames didn`t threaten anybody other than himself, got 26 weeks. How can somebody who commits ABH only get four months?

"He will be out in two; it should have been far more severe than that."

Leeds United have launched an anti-chanting campaign in the wake of what happened at Sheffield Wednesday on Friday night, with Leeds fans being subjected to taunts from home supporters about the tragedy in Turkey twelve years ago that saw two Leeds supporters murdered.

Leeds fans were also guilty of abusing chants in the direction of Wednesday manager Dave Jones and the club have asked fans to turn their backs on opposition fans in future.

You can see the full statement on the official website.





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