THE mother who glassed her son in the face and received a community rehabilitation order should have been jailed.

That is the response from more than 130 readers who called the Daily Echo hotline in disgust after reading Saturday's front page.

The 38-year-old mother from Boscombe, who cannot be named for legal reasons, spent all day drinking in the pub before the attack.

She also kicked ad punched the boy, stamped on his face and rubbed shards of glass into his body.

But she escaped with the six-month order after pleading guilty to ABH at Bournemouth Crown Court.

Mrs Rosemary Hicks from Nelson Court, Poole, said: "She should definitely have been put in jail. If it had been a teacher or a police officer, there would have not been any question about it."

Mrs Dorothy Roper, 70, from Christchurch, said: "I am a mother and grandmother and think the sentence imposed is disgraceful.

"People have been put in prison for a lot less than what she did to her poor son."

Angry mother-of-three Beverley Smith from Bournemouth said: "I think it is disgusting. I just can't believe this has happened in a local courtroom."

Another outraged reader said: "I think she should have been jailed. The sentence is much too lenient. At the end of the day her main responsibility is to her child."

"It's disgusting. It should have been a harsher sentence. I don't think the court is setting a very good example in deterring," said Tracey Saxby from Ferndown.

Irene Fielding of Bearwood said: "She should have been put in prison. I couldn't believe what I was reading in the paper."

Mike Bicknell, of Bournemouth, said: "Of course she should have been jailed, it's outrageous behaviour."

Maggie Steele emailed to say: "Yet again the legal system in this country shows itself as flying in the face of all logic. Being drunk is not an excuse for anything. It certainly should not be a defence.

"This was a vicious attack. A mother on her child.

"I hope the young boy recovers from his physical injuries well and that any mental scars do not totally destroy any chance he may have had of a useful and reasonably happy life."

Marie Turner wrote: "Her excuse of 'changing medication' is not a valid one. Hundreds of people every day change their medication for one reason or another and they do not resort to the behaviour she displayed.

"I sincerely hope this woman has no other children in her care! She should definitely have received a custodial sentence."

Paul Hindley said: "The boy will be scarred for life both mentally and physically. Any parents that abuse alcohol drinking should not be allowed to look after children. And treating them like this should get jail for the minimum of 10 years."

First published: August 24