What further act of barbarism can the Echo report that will exceed the dastardly deed of attacking a dog and pouring acid into its eyes (Echo, June 10)?

An unprovoked attack on a commuter by a gang of youths left the victim suffering brain damage.

And the sentence? Eight months in custody.

Amazingly, the judge did not allow the name of the convicted youth to be revealed.

Shame on the judge and the woeful system of punishment that the policies of this Government, and its predecessors, have established.

Here’s a solution.

Let’s have all the convicts held in nursing care homes, where they will receive the minimum amount of food and water, no more than one bath a week and few activities.

That will give them plenty of time to consider the error of their ways.

In contrast, all the elderly currently in care homes would be incarcerated in prisons, where there would be proper supervision 24 hours a day, three square meals of nutritional food and a wealth of activities to give their autumn years many a ray of sunshine.

Nick Vince
Rocheway
Rochford