In response...

Dear David, I’m glad I “seem” to be an educated person to you. That has certainly bolstered my self-esteem for the week!

But I found your letter entirely baffling and, frankly, a load of codswallop.

Your reference to my supposed NIMBY-ism certainly brought an enormous smile to my face. But I guess I must concede to your well-rounded wisdom – I certainly don’t want any robberies in Angmering village, or indeed in my backyard. So, yes, in that respect I’m a massive NIMBY.

I do agree with your sentiments that it is a tough time for many and money is tight for countless people. But your assertion that this financial struggle, combined with a lack of community outreach programmes, clubs, etc, made my jaw drop faster than Greece’s doomed economy.

It’s utterly preposterous to suggest that, because things are difficult, youngsters will inevitably turn to crime to help them survive. Total rubbish.

I know countless people, who live or have lived in poor circumstances, who would never dream of turning to crime to support their needs. They work to earn a living. I also know many who have never once been to a community centre, who turned out just fine.

They never needed to be led by the hand to stay away from a life of crime, as your letter seemingly suggests is the only real course of action.

Perhaps it is you, who is “lacking a clear vision” of the nation’s youth (to whom I never actually made any reference to in my original letter). I’d give them a lot more credit.

At the end of the day, this person committed a crime, one that, by law, could lead to a very long time in prison.

So I will stick by my comments of that person being a pathetic, moronic buffoon, and a drain on society.

You ended by asking who made me judge and juror. No-one did, and I never professed to have been. But surely it’s common sense, crime needs to be punished, and regardless of this man’s possible circumstances, he committed a crime.

A. Culverson

Fastnet Way

Littlehampton