SIR: Most evenings we read in the BEN reports of incidents where elderly people are mugged and conned and robbed of their possessions by evil thugs, or wanton destruction of properties caused by mindless morons who cannot think sensibly. Yet when caught and brought to justice these slime balls are most often only on the receiving end of a slapped wrist.

On Saturday June 14, the same judiciary who handle the above law breakers decided in their wisdom to sentence a dog to death, a dumb animal who could not speak for itself when brought to trial. The c rime? running free without a muzzle, and accidentally biting a child (for which it was forgiven).

This sentence was based on a daft law thought up by a handful of politicians. It is often said that the law is an ass and as such, this one deserves a swift kick up the rear.

I fully expected to see a form of defence put up in respect of the dog, by some of the animal charities, but I cannot recall hearing their voice.

However, when murderers, bombers, rapists and the like are reprieved, surely it is not too much to ask the magistrates to show some compassion and give an 11th hour reprieve, and then perhaps they could sleep easily in their beds.

Mr J Higson

Radcliffe Road, Darcy Lever

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.