A Colombian court sentenced a man to four years house arrest for smacking a woman on the bottom as he rode by on his bicycle.

Local media pounced on the story and featured legal experts giving their opinions on whether the punishment was too harsh, reports Reuters.

Some programs re-enacted the crime. One show even featured a phantom hand slapping the bottoms of three models.

One of the models said: "It happened to me once... I was walking very relaxed and a guy rode by on his bicycle and, 'ta!' He smacked me. I took off my shoe to hit him with it but he was already too far away."

Some analysts said the verdict would deter other men, while others said it was too severe.