23 OCTOBER 1999, Page 33

Cut-glass prejudice

From Mr Desmond Briggs, JP Sir: Boris Johnson is right to draw attention to the cult of vocal correctness (Another voice, 9 October). 'Accentism' is not con- fined to the media: as a Justice of the Peace, not long ago I heard an application from a defendant that her trial on a motor- ing matter should be heard in the magis- trates' court. The lady possessed a cut-glass accent and feared that this would so preju- dice 'twelve good men and true' that they would bring in a guilty verdict without leav- ing the jury-box.

Desmond Briggs

Old Werretts, Castle Combe, Chippenham, Wiltshire