Rakshasa,
Some degree of punishment was clearly appropriate, and I'm sorry if I seemed to suggest otherwise.
It just seemed rather sad, to me, and I wondered whether there shouldn't be a bit more emphasis on helping the bloke than on simply locking him up.
No-one joins the services because they failed the M&S interview - it's a vocation and a lifestyle, and being slung out will be a disgrace and a trauma that might be (Might!) punishment enough?
Jacko,
I must stress I agree with you and your opinion is a perfectly valid one, so there's no need to say sorry!
But as I said, I can see why the court weren't particularly lenient.
You're right though, it's a very sad outcome for Dave, his friends and family and perhaps, a lesson for the rest of us about not getting too carried away.