I COULDN'T believe my eyes when I read the story "Benefits cheat claimed £17,000" (July 30).

Is it just me, or does a 120-hour community punishment order seem a bit lean for someone who has raked in more than £17,000 in benefit fraud?

A rough calculation would make that around £140 per hour.

Surely something is out of balance somewhere?

C Farrow,

Beckfield Lane,

Acomb,

York.

...I WOULD like to thank once again the magistrates of our city for sending out the "sternest" of messages to would-be fraudsters ("Benefits cheat claimed £17,000", July 30).

Max Thomas, of City of York Council's audit and fraud office, caught one such fraudster. Look out you will be punished, he must have said.

Well, that is if you think 120 hours of community service for cheating the benefits system to the tune of £17,000 is punishment.

On my calculator that's £141.66p per hour.

Give me some of that! To all you struggling traders trying to convince the smug Steve Galloway to rethink his parking charges, don't bother. Pack up, sell up, and stay at home.

Claim as much as you can, if you ever get caught though remember the punishment will be stern: £141 quid an hour for community service.

R Lund,

The Wandle,

Acomb,

York.

Updated: 11:38 Monday, August 02, 2004