A PENARTH resident whose son-in-law was chased through the streets by an armed man last year has slammed a second sentence handed down to the same man for a similar offence.

Richard Williams-Francis was jailed for 12 months last year after he admitted threatening Craig Parker with a blade in Penarth town centre.

But last month Williams-Francis, 36, was back before the courts and again pleading guilty to possessing a blade.

He also admitted assault.

The incident again took place in the town centre.

Williams-Francis, of Church Road, Penarth, was handed another 12-month prison sentence, but this was later reduced to 10-and-a-half-months.

Now, the father-in-law of Williams-Francis’ original victim, Mr Parker, has hit out over the second sentence doled out, calling it “too lenient”.

Mr Parker’s father-in-law, Nick Hudd, said: “If you do something like this and then six months after coming out of prison you do it again, you should not be getting the same sentence or less.

“What is he doing on the streets? Or only going inside for a such little time?

“If I were to meet the judge I would ask him, knowing what he did last year, ‘how can you do this?’

“It’s just wrong,” he said.

During sentencing for his first offence, the judge was told that Williams-Francis could not explain his behaviour other than to say he was experiencing some “emotional turmoil” at the time of the incident.

Mr Hudd said he felt the pattern of reoffending whilst in possession of dangerous weapons needed to be stopped, and tougher sentences imposed, to prevent more serious incidents in the future.

“If there’s something wrong with him (Williams-Francis) and he needs help, then give him help,” he added.

“If not, then he needs to be locked up for a long time.”