Sir – I read your report ‘Robbers jailed for nine years’ (Worcester News, July 2) on the two thugs who attacked and robbed old people.

These ‘animals’ used a lumphammer in a series of attacks and robberies.

They had a string of convictions but it was the wimpy summing up by the judge [Judge Christopher Plunkett] which annoyed me when he was reported as saying they had embarked on a spree of mischievous behaviour.

Excuse me, scrumping apples may be mischief but attacking old people with lumphammers is cowardly, extreme, life-threatening violence that must leave the victims scarred for life.

Richard I Bird, Worcester