People have every right to be outraged at the pathetic handling of shoplifter, drug addict and alcoholic Scott Anderson Wilson by the magistrates.

What has really annoyed me is the photo of him leaving court. The jacket he was wearing was very nice, I bet he didn't pay for it!

What a smack in the face for the police, store detectives and other agencies that spend time, effort and money catching pond-life like him only to have it all thrown back in their faces by the people who should be dishing out the final result: punishment.

Whatever happened to the "three strikes and your out" regime?

His list of offences is longer than my monthly supermarket shopping receipt. Get the toe-rag banned from all the shops or, better still, send him back to his hometown and let them have the pleasure of his company.

PR Willey,

Burnholme Drive,

Heworth, York.

Updated: 10:05 Monday, March 22, 2004