The home of a one of my friends and his wife was recently burgled while they were away on holiday.

Several personal items were stolen and a substantial amount of float money from his local football club, where he puts in numerous voluntary hours as fundraiser and general dogsbody.

His wife is still badly traumatised and my friend still can't sleep properly at night, knowing the low-life responsible is still out there, laughing at the system, knowing he would not be punished anyway should he by chance be caught.

Have Lord Woolf and his fellow Law Lords any idea how to console my friends?

Maybe, if he is caught, they could order this criminal to do a few odd jobs around my friend's house or even lend a hand in the garden now winter is upon us.

I have maintained the law is an ass and my opinion has not changed.

-Mick Venour, Southon Close, Mile Oak