IN response to your letter Mrs Platt, “It’s not so easy being a judge” (November 8), yes, I have been in a court — once in a magistrates court and twice in courts presided over by a judge.

Those times were when judges had teeth, before this namby pamby government we now have changed the “guidelines” you mentioned.

The thing is, Mrs Platt, they are exactly that, guidelines, not something set out in law or laid in concrete.

Judges either follow the guidelines or they don’t.

The trouble is, most judges seem more concerned with looking after their own interests than doing what is right when sentencing criminals.

Instead of challenging these “guidelines”, they moan about having to go with the flow.

If normal people have problems when management alter their working practices they do something about it.

In days gone by, unions would instigate a go slow, work to rule or even a strike.

What have judges done?

Nothing, because they like the kudos and everything else that goes with the title.

It is of no use whatsoever if some judge tells the family of a murder victim that this is the most heinous crime they have presided over if they then go on to give a ludicrously short sentence.

So, do not challenge me Mrs Platt for stating the obvious, challenge the judges for not having enough backbone to challenge the guidelines this Government expects them to operate under.

After all, if the Government said that all brain surgeons must operate with one hand tied behind their backs, you wouldn’t expect the surgeons to actually do that, would you?

Mr J O’Connor, Redcar Road, Little Lever