This excellent article questions whether deterrent sentences can ever be justified, using the cases of Edward Woollard, the student who threw a fire extinguisher from the top of Millbank Tower during the student protests, and of Anton Ward and Javir Hull by way of example. The latter pair were convicted of violent disorder after a shocking attack on their victim in the street. If you can stomach it, the Manchester Evening News have it on video here. The article makes the point that Woollard may have received a deterrent sentence in comparison to Ward and Hull due to the high-profile nature of his case.

A truly excellent article and discussion piece for students of sentencing.

For a clip relating to Edward Woollard, see below: