Festive failing

Thank you for your amusing look at Christmas oddities (An Unexpected History of Christmas, Christmas issue). It gave me several chuckles. However, it was a shame that you didn’t balance it with even a suggestion of what Christmas was really about. Your article was a polo mint, I’m afraid.

Rev Jim Crompton, Kincraig

Too harsh a sentence

While reading your January issue, I was shocked to learn about the severity of the prison sentences given to the). One was jailed for 10 years, the other for eight and a half. Violent criminals with blood on their hands receive shorter sentences. These punishments send out a message that a treasure trove is more important than a human life. Our prisons are overcrowded and should be used for dangerous offenders. The metal-detectorists deserved punishment but prison sentences of this order were disproportionate.