Judge Cherie Blair spares ‘violent religious man’ prison

Cherie Blair was criticised today after she spared a violent offender jail because he is "a religious man".

Shamso Miah, 25, broke a man's jaw following a row in East Ham. Mrs Blair, the wife of ex-prime minister Tony Blair, was sitting as a judge at Inner London crown court and sentenced him to six months in jail, suspended for two years.

She said: "I am going to suspend this sentence based on the fact you are a religious person and have not been in trouble before. You are a religious man and you know this is not acceptable behaviour."

The National Secular Society said her attitude was "discriminatory" and has complained to the Office for Judicial Complaints. It said: "This seems to indicate she would not have treated a non-religious person with the same latitude."