SOMETIMES magistrates and judges must feel like football referees - thousands of people observe their decisions and often have their own view of why they were wrong and what should have happened.

But magistrates, like referees, are human and will sometimes make mistakes - or what most people would consider to be mistakes.

The bench which decided not to jail a man who twice headbutted the practice manageress at a Blackburn health centre falls into that category. Even the other set of magistrates who imposed a community penalty said that "sadly" they were bound by their colleagues' earlier decision not to send the offender to prison.

And the man's own solicitor who described his behaviour as "inexcusable and totally unacceptable" said he could consider himself "fortunate" that he was not immediately put behind bars.

No wonder,. then, that the security manager for Blackburn with Darwen Primary Care Trust is disappointed, particularly since the government has announced a policy of "zero tolerance" for attacks on health care staff.

This incident was particularly nasty and has had a lasting traumatic effect on the victim.

The courts need to be bold and and reflect the revulsion of the community at such despicable assaults on people who help the sick and injured day after day.