WE refer to your story Former policeman is jailed for theft in last week s edition and would like to express our deep concern at the punishment of a custodial sentence for Mark Egerton when, the same morning, a man spoke on television about his surprise

WE refer to your story 'Former policeman is jailed for theft' in last week's edition and would like to express our deep concern at the punishment of a custodial sentence for Mark Egerton when, the same morning, a man spoke on television about his surprise of not being imprisoned for his crime of downloading child pornography.

Where is the justification when Mr Egerton and his family have already suffered enough for his misguided efforts to support his family?

Mr Egerton poses no threat to the society and did not deliberately set out to defraud anybody, and yet is incarcerated in our overcrowded prisons, while the man on television, who enjoys viewing child pornography and is an obvious major threat to any child he encounters, is free to return to his home and family among vulnerable children and to the community.

This country has gone mad and it makes us sick to the stomach.

We have known Mr Egerton and his family for more than two years and they are a lovely family and decent people who obviously found themselves in an impossible situation which Mr Egerton felt he could solve his way - intending the money to be a loan - which we notice was fully repaid before the sentencing was decided.

What Mr Egerton did was wrong, but his wife and children are being equally punished. They have had to move house and school and suffered immense humiliation. Now they are to endure the trauma of having their family split while Mr Egerton serves his sentence.

Is this safeguarding society? No. It is a ridiculous punishment.

Home Secretary John Reid's message to all judges was only to imprison if absolutely necessary. Has the 'right man' gone to prison? We don't think so.

VICTORIA HAWKINS and

SHERALEE MILNER

Westfield Road

Manea