I READ your report on the sentence reduction from five to four years for a man convicted of indecently assaulting two young girls over a considerable period of time (June 13).

While I'm not comfortable second-guessing the judgement of the courts, I do think cases such as this highlight the double standards and hypocrisy of how the law treats children.

We are constantly encouraged to see children as potential criminals, while the truth is that they're far more likely to be victims of crime than perpetrators. When cases where children are the victims come to court, especially when the crime is abuse, sentences too often give the impression that these crimes are not seen as serious in comparison with other forms of violent offence, or even theft.

I'm not going to call for changing laws or harsher sentences; David Blunkett needs no encouragement in that direction, and I don't believe it would help anyway. But we as a society need to start treating children with more respect and dignity - that includes treating crimes against children far more seriously.

Ben Drake,

Danum Road,

Fulford, York.

Updated: 11:19 Thursday, June 19, 2003