Looking at the magistrates court reports in the Echo, it appears that many convicted criminals must be laughing all the way to the pub.

Having committed theft, damage to property, violent attacks, drunkenness, etc, they often are not punished.

In its place they receive community service, supervision orders, no penalty (in lieu of ‘time served’), conditional discharges, unconditional discharges, curfew or no action taken .

When they fail to comply with one of these ‘punishments’, they just extend the period – so that’s alright then.

No wonder the police despair after working hard to bring them to book.

And re-offending – why not, after all we always get away with it.

So it is quite understandable that my street is repeated vandalised as the drunks pass by, when pubs shut – oh, I forgot they never shut do they?

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED, Weymouth