I WRITE regarding the one year jail sentence received by Mrs McCulloch, a 61-year-old woman in ill health (March 31). In what way will society benefit from this jail term? Will we sleep easier at night? Feel safer leaving our homes while out at work or on holiday? No!

Surely a suspended jail sentence or community service would have been more appropriate in this case.

I read week after week in the courts column of criminals repeatedly house breaking, shop lifting, driving dangerously, offences often drug related (which seem to make things okay in the eyes of the courts).

These people ask for many similar offences to be taken into account and they still seem to walk away unpunished time after time. But then their crimes are against us, not the Government.

I know who I would feel safer having locked away and it isn't a 61-year-old who has raised thousands for charity.

D Elmer,

Constantine Avenue,

Tang Hall, York.

...I WAS really saddened to read Charlotte McCulloch had been sent to prison. What she did was wrong. But since she had not been in trouble before surely she is entitled to a second chance.

Everybody makes mistakes. And wouldn't it have been better to let this lady have the chance to put her mistakes right by paying the money back?

Every day you see addicts given the chance to put their wrongs right by giving them community work. Well, I think this lady has done her fair share for the community for all the years of help and fund-raising for cancer.

I too lost a brother to cancer last year in the hospice.

And because of her, and people like her, he died with dignity and pride.

Mrs Caunt,

Horsman Avenue,

Cemetery Road,

York.

Updated: 11:52 Monday, April 07, 2003