I SEE from the Gazette's May 1 issue that a 13-year-old boy has been severely punished by magistrates for punching a fellow 13-year-old on the nose.

Apparently the recipient of the punch had insulted the punch thrower's mother.

I would have thought that congratulation rather than punishment would have been far more appropriate. We live in strange times.

On a lighter note, another magistrate has reportedly threatened a defendant with "a tonne of bricks" on the head if he gets into any more trouble.

This metricated promise is 40lb light of the traditional ton, so either the magistrate was feeling lenient or he has been got at by Health and Safety. Who knows?

This sort of thing can only lead to further devaluation.

A "baker's dozen" of 11 comes to mind.

R J HARVEY

Lyneham