Jails terms handed to four men sentenced over the death of a fifth has prompted the Hartlepool Mail to launch a fight for tougher sentencing.

The Mail is seeking review of the sentencing of the four men who took part in the brutal killing of Hartlepool man Phillip McGibbon and is calling for tougher sentences all round.

The A Cry for Justice campaign has struck a chord with readers who are already returning coupons from the paper as a petition starts to grow.

The man who delivered the fatal punch in a fight last year was jailed for three-and-a-half years for manslaughter, while another got nine months for attempting to pervert the course of justice, and a third and fourth were sentenced to 18 months each for violent disorder. All admitted the charges.

But the Mail believes their sentences could encourage criminals to “laugh at the law” and the victim’s family, along with the new chief constable for Durham Police, Paul Garvin, are backing those calls.

The Crown Prosecution Service has until next week to appeal against the sentences and a spokesman said such action was under consideration.

One reason for an appeal could be that the sentences were deemed unduly lenient, and that is what the CPS have to decide.

The Mail said: “Together with the people of Hartlepool and East Durham we want to replace our weak-willed judiciary with proper punishments that fit the crime.”

And through the Hartlepool Mail’s Cry For Justice campaign, Phillip McGibbon’s parents hope to secure thousands of signatures on a petition aimed at changing the soft punishments given to violent offenders.

Petitions will be distributed throughout Hartlepool and East Durham over the next few weeks for people to sign.

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