A DAD has criticised the judge who jailed his son’s killer for seven years, branding the sentence ‘too lenient’.

Stephen Whittle, of Barrymore Avenue, was convicted of the manslaughter of his friend John Wright following a five-day trial at Chester Crown Court.

Whittle, aged 30, was sentenced last Monday by the Recorder of Chester Judge Elgan Edwards after he beat up Mr Wright in March, eventually killing him with a karate chop.

The following day the same judge jailed 22-year-old Perry Sutcliffe-Keenan, of Richmond Avenue, for four years for setting up a Facebook group called ‘Warrington Riot’.

Ken Wright, aged 66, from Grappenhall Road, said: “The trial lasted a harrowing five days, listening to evidence about how my son was killed and the injuries he sustained.

“I was hopeful the jury would reach a guilty of murder verdict. I was sure they would if they had seen the actual photos of my son’s face and neck and did not have to rely on computer images that, in my opinion, did not convey the true brutality of Whittle’s assault on my son.

“Alas that was not to be, they found Whittle guilty of manslaughter. I believe a manslaughter sentence is automatically halved so that would mean Whittle would be out in three years, able to walk round town and take his children out.

“My son, a father-of-three, won’t be able to do any of that, his family will never see him again and that’s a bitter pill to swallow.

“To make matters worse I found out the same judge on the following day jailed a man for trying to incite a riot using Facebook.

“I have no problem with judges handing out stiffer sentences to deter people from breaking the law but how can he sentence a person for four years for potentially causing harm to people when he gave Whittle seven years for actually killing my son in a violent assault.

“I cannot believe such a lenient sentence will deter Whittle from settling his next minor argument with another violent attack and I do not believe justice has been done for him taking the life of my son.”