Atherton Online

How unbelievably shocked I was to hear of the illiterate 16-year-old who wrote a letter to his victims of the house he burgled, yet not an apologetic one... a letter where he blamed THEM for his actions. Writing a letter is seen to be an exercise of remorse and rehabilitation on a programme which is described as the “most rigorous” form of non-custodial sentence available for young offenders and supposedly to help them change their ways.
For the likes of this person who of course cannot be names for legal reasons it seems to have just been an opportunity to continue to make a nuisance of himself and disturb his victims. The letter was stopped by authorities and instead released as part of an anti-burglary campaign. The letter (pictured) is clearly written in unclear, basic handwriting with numerous spelling mistakes and grammatical errors.

The letter said:

‘I don’t no why I am writing a letter to you! I have been forced to write this letter by ISSP. To be honest I’m not bothered or sorry about the fact that I burgled your house.
‘Basicly it was your own fault anyways. I’m going to run you through the dumb mistakes you made.
‘Firstly you didn’t draw your curtains which most people now to do before they go to sleep.
'Secondly your dumb you live in Stainburns a high risk burglary area and your thick enough to leave your downstairs kitchen window open. I wouldnt do that in a million years. But anyways I don’t feel sorry for you and Im not going to show any sympath or remores.’

The rather ghastly individual stole a computer, games console, games, cameras and 2 televisions... most of which has now been recovered in Moortown, Leeds.

This is clearly Britain’s youth as it is today! You cannot deny that our young teenagers are doing nothing but binge drinking, having underage sex, causing misery for the elderly and of course resorting to crime. Television documentaries have proven it, statistics have shown it and the police have confirmed it. We do not need a bunch of delusional individuals telling us that they are “bored” quite frankly they need a kick up the backside, get into education and learn how to string words together and create sentences. They need goals, ambitions and to learn respect. With also the risk of stereotyping I imagine the parents to either be sitting on their own proverbial drinking and applying to television problematic family shows and not working. This is realistically what the world is today. Boundaries need to be set, rules need to be emplaced and things generally need to be put into perspective. This has gone on for many years and just what is there to stop it? Youth clubs? The likes of this individual clearly doesn’t have a stable future ahead of him and I don’t think he will just simply “grow out” of it... it isn’t a disease or an illness it’s a downright behavioural problem! Plastic police officers on patrol are no help, we need the police service to have zero toleration such as they did back in August when the rioting was occurring. Poncy police programmes shall not automatically teach a child of this sought that his actions are wrong... something further and more advanced needs to be done along with some shock tactics and a jolly good shake! Young offenders institutes have never been busier and seemingly are more full than fairground attractions. I imagine they have all sorts of facilities of which poorer families don’t even have and quite frankly is appalling.

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said he had previous convictions for similar offences.
The teenager appeared in court and was given a 12-month ISSP order, designed to control the behaviour of young offenders through ‘community-based surveillance.’
Chief Inspector Melanie Jones, of West Yorkshire Police, said: ‘The contents of the letter are disgusting but it highlights the cold and dispassionate way burglars select a property to target.’

Councillor Sharon Hamilton, who represents the ward where the burglary occurred, said: ‘How dare he? He is so cheeky. It’s not for him to be telling people in the area who have worked hard to have what they have to tell them how to look after their homes. He has no right to be breaking into their homes.’

A spokesman for the UK Neighbourhood Watch Trust said the letter was ‘appalling’, but there was a lesson for everyone to learn.
‘Christmas is coming and people like to leave their curtains open so people can see their lights and their tree, but they need to realise the criminal is looking at their TV, radio, computer and the presents under the tree.’

Of course it should come natural for people to put even the basic procedures in place to ensure their home is fully secure... if not it seems someone shall just at the chance of invading your personal space without remorse. It is time we stepped up our game, we proved it is possible when the riots where happening so why can’t it just be the same day after day? David Cameron needs to get a firm grip of society and not be blind when it comes to things which is transparently obvious to the rest of us normal individuals. Maybe we should take the American way of dealing with young offenders? Simply no tolerance!  Parents take control! I introduce you all to the UK Policing system.