THE picture of Pendle war veteran Bob Schofield, 89, beaten up by burglars in his own home is truly shocking (LT, November 12).

The perpetrators of this attack are the lowest of the low and if caught should be locked away for a very long time.

Unfortunately, I have little faith in this happening.

Assuming they appear before a judge who will be prepared to give them a long jail sentence, with our prisons now full to bursting these thugs can be reasonably confident that they will not serve the sentence that is handed down to them.

This week, jails minister David Hanson admitted that 5,000 violent offenders will be let out of prison early to ease overcrowding, with more to follow before the end of the year.

The controversial end of custody licence scheme was brought in 18 months ago.

Since June last year, more than 36,000 criminals have been freed 18 days early under the policy.

At least 1,250 have been recalled to jail, with 529 alleged to have committed 723 crimes.

I wish Mr Schofield a full recovery, but alas he won’t be the last innocent victim of violent crime until the punishment fits the crime.

The savage beating of Mr Schofield and other vicious attacks across the land which are unfortunately becoming almost common-place, reflects the failure of both our justice system and the lack of will on the Government’s part to punish and stamp out such behaviour.

Only when the prison sentences given to these thugs is so draconian, and their stay in prison is an unpleasant one, will we see a marked fall in violent crime which, whatever the statistics say, appears to be on the increase.

Councillor D. Pearson, St Michaels Court, Blackburn