He was taunted, relieved of his shopping and ultimately pelted with his grocery items by some inane mindless youths.

When the man fled indoors and emerged brandishing a knife he was not committing some pre-meditated knife attack, he was simply terrified for his own well-being and the safety of his home. This being 'Great' Britain, what happened next?

The parents of these hoodlums report the man to the police and he is given 140 hours community service by our incomprehensible justice system.

Yes, it's wrong to wield a weapon and threaten others, and violence cannot be condoned, but surely it's equally unjust to taunt and harass people just for the entertainment of 'bored teenagers'.

In days gone by the parents would have 'clipped the ears' of their beloved offspring (but that's against the law), and taught them to value and respect others, instead of plaguing people's lives with terror, oh how times have changed!

As for the judge, he described the victim as having been "insulted" by these rogues. Surely aiming and throwing missiles at somebody can be classed as an 'assault' and not just an 'insult'.

Did the youths receive any punishment for 'insulting' this man? Where is their deterrent?

The law is an ass and some judicial decisions beggar belief. What kind of a world has this become?

ELAINE WHITAKER, Kenilworth Road, Leeds.


While MPs are deliberating what new office furniture they can buy with taxpayers' money, or what perks they can think up, thugs are roaming the streets, stabbing and shooting innocent people at random. The stabbing epidemic has reached unacceptable levels and must be confronted head on. It is with this in mind that I think we should follow the example set in New York by Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and continued by his successor, Michael Bloomberg.
Zero tolerance was introduced and a heavy police presence with extensive powers to stop and search sent out the message that authority does exist, and that disorder will not be tolerated.

The streets must be regained by the police so the public can go about their business without having to look over their shoulders. Gun and knife crime must not be an acceptable part of a civilised society.

MR G COLEMAN, Batley


Until supermarkets and all other outlets that sell alcohol go back to the strict hours of selling, we will still go on losing the battle against crime and gun and knife killing. Since 24-hour drinking came into force the public have proved that they're not mature enough to have such freedom.

Why do the youth of today so hate each other that instead of talking they reach out to kill? Years ago no young lad would be without a penknife in his pocket, but with no thought of killing on his mind. But maybe the thought of paying the ultimate price kept that penknife in their pockets.

OLGA TWIST, Whinmoor, Leeds


With the rise in violence amongst young people, the blame lies solely at the door of our government. Our politicians voted against any discipline in schools and in the home and police hands are tied. Anyone defending themselves is prosecuted for assault against the aggressors. All judges should be sacked and army officers with years of combat experience should sit on benches or hold courts martial. Then we would see the decline of crime.

J SHEDLOW, Moortown, Leeds


Enough is enough. How long can the criminals go on ruling the roost? When will so-called politicians start to earn their corn?

Crime is making a complete mockery of the lives and too often the deaths of so many young and older people. Many of us are living in constant fear of violence – murders are now almost a daily occurrence and often more than one in a day.

The police tell us crime is coming down, perhaps if they got out into the streets more often and gave truer statistical results it could be more believable.

Corporal punishment and the pain of the birch should be reinstated. I have met three people who have experienced this and all stated they would not offend again.

This could reduce the time wasted in the courts, lining the pockets of lawyers. It would be a much more positive treatment as the crime often enacted causes pain and suffering to the victim.

There would be swifter results towards the much-needed justice the general public deserve, also in some cases saving the expense of imprisonment and detention which costs the general public enough in taxes just to keep the offenders off the streets.

If the convicted were made to work for their keep I feel sure they would not enjoy the status of imprisonment quite as much. In lots of cases it is the fear of doing an honest job that has often got them into the situation they are in already.

P WALLS, Leeds.


I can't understand the fuss over the level of knife crime. Here's what my Routledge Universal Encyclopaedia, 1934 edition has to say about a similar mid-19th century scourge:

"Garrotting. A form of robbery with violence, which broke out in England from 1862-1863. Victims were nearly strangled by a cord thrown over the head from behind. It was checked by the imposition of the penalty of flogging in addition to penal servitude."

What more is there to say?

M NICHOLSON, Barwick, Leeds.