The antisocial scum who vandalised my son's car on his last two visits to Brighton and Hove should know the distress they have caused.

On the first occasion, they damaged the driver's door, stole the radio and CD player and, having failed to remove the steering wheel lock, smashed the dashboard.

To anyone with comprehensive insurance this would have been irritating.

For my son, it kick-started a personally catastrophic chain of events. His car was essential in his job.

He provided his own business insurance, though this was so expensive he could afford only third party, fire and theft cover on his own account - nothing for damage.

Worse, his firm then introduced a three-day week, which made the cost of insurance renewal prohibitive so my son had to leave.

Happily, he got a new job, for which he doesn't need business cover, and celebrated with a weekend trip to friends in Brighton.

Last Saturday night, someone - perhaps even the same person - broke in through the other door and made off with the rear shelf (and built-in speakers), indicators and grille.

Again, my son must bear the repair and replacement costs.

I've tried and tried, without success, to imagine what joy can be gained from the destruction and theft of bits and pieces of someone else's property.

All I can envisage is the intense personal satisfaction to be derived from the consequences of catching them at it.

-John Morris, by email