I WRITE in response to the recent report 'Fugitive faces life sentence' (August 13) after he escaped from York Crown Court by vaulting from the dock when found guilty of assaulting a city doorman.

Brett Lill's defence of being "badly" affected by his grandmother's actions and of having a "very poor" upbringing is a load of rubbish.

He was one year old when this tragedy happened, he has no recollection of it whatsoever. He met her only once in his life. I clearly remember he was a spoilt brat who wanted for nothing.

Lill is a vicious, arrogant man who doesn't like authority. Hopefully, when he is finally caught and sentenced, the judge will see straight through his pathetic defence.

It's not the first time he has used this defence, he also used it in 2000 when he was sentenced for a similar offence.

My mum has had to live with this for many years and was extremely upset by the recent coverage.

How dare he bring all this back to the surface and use my mum's pain and anguish to try and gain a lesser sentence? It's nothing short of cheap.

Fortunately, my mum is a strong woman and has the reassuring support of many family members and friends.

As for Brett Lill, I have this message: Your outrageous defence shall, hopefully, not convince anyone. Give yourself up and take your sentence like the big man you think you are.

You are responsible for your own actions so stop blaming others.

Name and address supplied.

Updated: 11:04 Thursday, August 25, 2005