The decision by magistrates to ban publication of a young thug’s identity after a catalogue of crimes, is almost as guilty of wrongdoing as the yobbo himself.

The magistrates are out of touch with what goes on outside courts, and all too often we hear of lenient sentences being increased following public outcry – like the recent case of John Shirley.

Is the country going soft? Perhaps the same magistrates should be named and shamed too?

When a soft sentence is given, the culprit just laughs when they get outside the courtroom.

The whole crime scene has developed into a culture. The old English culture of having a conscience seems to have departed humanity in recent years. Selfishness has become the priority for many Adrian Taylor, Eynsham