Re: The letter about drug addicts by Andy Newman, EA, April 1. Was it an April Fool hoax? He cannot be serious. When most people are saying the law is too soft on criminals, Mr Newman wants them to be treated as victims.

He also wants addicts to get drugs on prescription from the doctor. Has this do gooder gone completely mad? Drug addiction is not an illness, it is self-inflicted.

They are criminals. Victims are like the 76 year old in Liden, reported on the front page of the same edition. She was attacked and badly injured for her handbag by a 25-year-old drug addict who was rightly jailed for three years.

A BURN

Eastmere, Swindon