CAMBRIDGE has now joined Oxford in the dubious production of Court Judge Gareth Hawkesworth who recently appeared to show a predilection for going soft on paedophiles by releasing a teenager who sexually assaulted a four-year-old.


 At least Oxford Crown Court’s controversial Judge Julian Hall has ‘retired’.
Let’s hope his Cambridge counterpart is ‘persuaded’ to do the same if he doesn’t come down hard on these perverts.

 Normal parents will see it as an absolute necessity to ensure paedophiles of all ages don’t see these inexplicable judicial decisions as merely a slap on the wrist for heinous offences (which I deem second only to murder) and therefore no deterrent.


 It would be even better if judges’ actions were fully investigated and – if failing – had them removed from office.


 But the Law Society’s noticeable silence, after previous peculiarly soft sentencing and much public criticism, does not bode well.


 So perhaps all judges should be independently investigated thoroughly before being ‘let loose’ on an unsuspecting public who deserve the best.
Yes, there is the risk we might open up a can of worms, but better to get some judging consistency to allay public fear and concern.


 Perhaps then the first thing in the public’s mind - including the wider international public - when linking Oxford and Cambridge, will again be the universities and the Boat Race.

MICK HEAVEY,
Oxford Road,
Old Marston