JAILED Munir Hussain has received more than 400 messages of support after attacking a man who threatened his family, a court heard.

His defence lawyer Michael Wolkind said that many people felt ‘totally unsafe in their own home’ because of the perception that they were in danger in their own houses.

And he said the Hussains were hardworking citizens and there was a view from some of their supporters that Salem ‘had got off lightly’.

He added about the case: "Imprisonment is simply the wrong result in this absolutely exceptional case. I am absolutely confident that the public would agree that this is exceptional.”

Earlier in the case the court had heard from members of the community who said Munir Hussain was an upstanding member of the community. A letter from Wycombe MP Paul Goodman was used as part of the defence case at Reading Crown Court earlier this year.

In the statement Mr Goodman said he had known Munir for a number of years and had worked with him on a number of community and “interfaith” projects.

Other testimonials were given by members of the Asian Business Council, of which Munir was chairman, and from the director of the Race Equality Council in High Wycombe, which he has also chaired.

Director Krishna Rampul told the jury of a number of projects Munir Hussain had been involved in, including leading a peace march to bring communities together and mediated in a dispute between taxi drivers and Wycombe District Council.

William Reid, a former chairman of the council for voluntary services in the Wycombe area, described Munir as “always in control” during their time working together on the Green Street Community project.