Ian Jelf wrote:
In message , Clive Coleman
writes
In message , Clive D. W.
Feather writes
I am *not* saying that we should not punish wrongdoers. But we
should apply the appropriate punishment, and only the appropriate
punishment, in a consistent manner.
Tell that to the Magistrate in Devon who sentenced an 80 year old
woman to a fortnight in jail for failure to pay her T.V. licence,
then I might accept your "appropriate punishment".

At 80, wouldn't she have been entitled to a free licence?

If you're thinking of Elizabeth Winkfield, it wasn't the TV licence she
was refusing to pay, it was Council Tax. As far as I remember, she was
fined, with the prospect of going to jail if she refused to pay the
fine. Didn't someone pay her tax for her?
--
Richard J.
(to e-mail me, swap uk and yon in address)