IT is a ruling that mocks justice itself. A teenager who kicked a man while he lay defenceless during an unprovoked gang beating has had his jail sentence slashed.

The move has outraged the victim's family and police who say it sends out the wrong message to criminals.

Joel Arbuckle, 18, was one of three youths who attacked two men outside a petrol station as they made their way home after a night out.

He was sentenced to 15 months in a young offenders' institution after admitting assault causing actual bodily harm and possession of an imitation firearm while committing an offence.

However, Lord Justice Hooper, sitting at the Appeal Court in London, cut the sentence - imposed at Southampton Crown Court in March - to just seven months. His decision brought jubilant clench-fisted salutes from Arbuckle's supporters in the public gallery.

However, it has been criticised by the family of victim Paul Hurry, 25, of Totton.

Mum Pauline said: "It's disgusting really. It was a terrible shock when it happened.

"Paul was just getting out of a taxi when he was thumped. The kids were on the other side of the road shouting and swearing, and then they just came over and hit him.

"None of us went to court when the attackers were sentenced, but we thought 15 months wasn't bad. Now their punishment is a joke.

"This sends out a terrible message. It gives youngsters a licence to be louts."

Security guard Arbuckle was caught on CCTV cameras kicking one victim who was lying on the ground during the vicious assault in Totton last November.

Video of the late-night incident showed Mr Hurry, who works for Ladbrokes in Southampton, lying on the pavement after being punched in the face by another member of the group.

Arbuckle of Sedbergh Road, Millbrook, was then seen to kick his prone body before walking off with his arms outstretched.

Police who spotted the youths gave chase and, when they caught Arbuckle, they found an imitation Colt pistol in his pocket.

A spokesman for the Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, condemned the sentence cut as "demoralising for the police and the community".

He added: "Sentences have to send out a clear message to victims of crime that the judicial process takes it seriously, and also to those who may consider committing a crime, that it's not worth it. When sentences start not to reflect that, the job of the police is made even more difficult."

Millbrook youth worker Gary Shawyer said: "People want to see fairness but this is showing that young people can commit crimes and still have their sentences cut.

"They should be showing that if you commit the crime, you pay the price. Young people will start to think that judges are weak."

However, Joel's mother said the family were pleased that the sentence had been cut and were looking forward to welcoming him home in the near future.

Lord Justice Hooper, sitting with Mr Justice Field and Mr Justice Leveson, said that he was cutting Arbuckle's sentence to bring it in line with the much shorter one imposed on one of his accomplices.