THERE are times when decent citizens find it hard to understand the law. Today's decision to free soldiers Shaun Smith and Jason Collins is one of those occasions.

We have posted video footage of the pair's abhorrent violence on our website and it not something we did lightly. Viewers are warned that the video has "graphic" content because it is shocking but we believe it is in the public interest for people to see the gravity of the soldiers' crime.

Smith, 25, and Collins, 21, are shown brutally beating two innocent men leaving a nightclub near Catterick Garrison. It is sickening to watch. After one man was left unconscious in the road, his friend is stamped on 18 times by Smith while Collins joins in with a barrage of punches.

It is a matter of extreme good fortune that the unprovoked attack did not result in a murder charge or leave at least one of the victims with brain damage.

And yet both have walked free today. Smith was given a 12-month suspended prison sentence with 80 hours' of community work. Collins was given a similar slap on the wrist and both were ordered to pay £1,000 compensation to their victims.

Even taking into account their previous good character, and the fact that they were senseless with drink, it is a sentence which will baffle law-abiding people. What does a thug have to do to warrant being locked up? And what message does it send to people with violent tendencies about what they can get away with?

Both have been set free in order to continue their army careers. Collins is now a guard at Buckingham Palace.

We are not in the habit of telling The Queen what to do but we respectfully suggest that Her Majesty kicks him out.