When judges comes up with what sounds like an odd verdict, the chances are they are acting in accordance with the law as it stands, including guidelines on sentences and so forth. And they also hear the whole case, including stuff the papers don't include.

I don't know if people want judges who say "bugger what the law says - I don't like the look of you, so you're going down for life". In fact that sometimes happens, though not in so many words, and there have been some horrifying injustices as a result.

When a judge has had a brainstorm and passed out a sentence which is too low there are provisions in British law for the prosecution to appeal against the sentence to get it jacked up.