[Osem]

I've heard reports that the lad in question has Aspergers Syndrome. If this indeed the case, it might go some way to explaining why the first judge acted as he/she did but it doesn't explain why sufficient supervisiory conditions weren't applied in order to keep him from reoffending. Where a crime is committed by someone who's mentally ill, I think it should be incumbent upon the authorities to ensure that the punishment imposed is intended first and foremost to protect the public and then to assist that individual, if possible, to modify/control their behaviour. This latter goal may well have been behind the initial decision not to jail the lad but tragically, in the absence of effective supervision/controls, he was able to reoffend.