Man who attacked his former teacher and posted video of it gets 18 months

A man who posted a video online of a revenge attack on his former middle school teacher was given an 18-month prison sentence by a court in Henan province on Wednesday.

Chang Renyao's assault of the teacher, who he nursed a grievance against for two decades, amounted to disturbance of public order, the court in Luanchuan county said in a statement.

China Central Television reported Chang will appeal his sentence to a higher court.

The case aroused public attention after a video of the attack went viral in December.

Chang had asked a man identified as Pan to record the beating in July last year when he saw his former teacher, surnamed Zhang, riding an electric bike and stopped him.

Chang insulted and slapped Zhang and punched his face, chest and stomach several times. More than 20 passersby watched the attack.

He later sent the video to his former classmates and it rapidly swept across Chinese social media.

Chang told the court during his trial last month that he attacked Zhang in revenge for physical punishment he received from the teacher 20 years ago for breaching school disciplinary rules.

The court said by venting his anger against Zhang and posting the attack, Chang had "seriously affected" the daily life of the teacher.

Chang's defense that it was a revenge attack for the punishment he received was dismissed by the court.

"The current evidence is sufficient to prove Chang had caused disturbances to society but cannot prove the victim's misconduct," it said. "Chang's dissatisfaction with Zhang can't be an excuse for his attack."

The court added that Chang further damaged Zhang by posting and spreading the video online, which "aggravated the case".

Under Criminal Law, those who disturb public order and affect others' lives, work or business operations by blocking their way or threatening, insulting or assaulting them can face up to five years in prison.

"The 18-month prison term is our careful decision and also a lenient penalty because Chang turned himself in and it was a first offense," the court said.

Ruan Chuansheng, a law professor at the Shanghai Administration Institute, said the sentence was reasonable as emotions, such as anger or holding a grievance, "cannot be released through an offense or violation".

"But the case also reflects that teachers and students need more understanding between each other when a conflict happens," he said, adding the best way to solve such problems is the rule of law.