4 DECEMBER 2004, Page 34

The quality of mercy

From Malcolm Knott Sir: Why does Trevor Grove JP (Diary, 27 November) feel obliged to impose a sentence which 'sticks in the throat a hit'? If he takes the view that prosecuting a first offender for a trivial, unimportant offence serves no useful purpose, he should say so, and hand down an absolute or conditional discharge. His sentencing powers are perfectly adequate to deal with inappropriate prosecutions and his judicial oath does not oblige him to punish every footling offence with the full rigour of the law.

Malcolm Knott

The College of Law. London Wel