YOU carried a report of the trial of Philip Bargh (December 21).

The large picture showed a pleasant-looking young man, who could have been anyone's friendly neighbour or son: except that Philip was a persistent paedophile and had served a sentence for assaulting a four-year-old girl.

York has a proud record as a pioneer in the humane and compassionate treatment of mental patients, including the criminally insane. I felt that the use of the word "pervert" in the headline was unworthy of that record.

What you should have dealt with was the failure of the authorities to help or try to treat Philip despite his pleas.

I do not know whether the intention was to "out" him by publishing the picture, but demonising him is not helpful.

Nicholas Morrell,

Bootham,

York.

Updated: 09:30 Saturday, December 28, 2002