GORDON Lees says that the sentencing of a youth was within guidelines for first offenders (May 13).

Later in the article it is said that the same youth received a final warning from the police two months earlier after another attack on a man of 57, so how can this have been his first offence?

Either of these attacks could have had fatal consequences and should have been dealt with accordingly. The prosecution, by dropping the more serious Section 18 offence, have sent a message to all yobs that if you say sorry or plead guilty to a lesser offence you will be dealt with leniently.

What sort of protection does this offer to law abiding citizens?

AP Cox,

Heath Close,

Holgate,

York.

Updated: 10:06 Wednesday, May 19, 2004