MEN ain’t hanged for stealing horses, men are hanged so horses don't get stolen.

If this deterrent from the wild west was re-introduced into modern society, for example, car crime, can you imagine the positive influence this would have for decent hard-working people in our area?

OK, the death penalty for nicking a motor may be a bit over the top, even for me. So I suggest just cut off their right hand.

This idea may not be original, but it is effective. This way the scumbag will still have one good hand to do what he’s best at.

Overnight motor crime will dissapear. Can you imagine not having to lock your car at night? Car insurance will go down instead of up.

Those who prey on the law-abiding can stay indoors watching their plasmas, seeing mates on Jeremy Kyle, leaving the rest of us to go about our responsibilities.

Then, and only then, can we close Grays Magistrates’ Court and many others like them, as we won’t have so many parasites to convict.

If we give them an insentive not to steal, then who knows, they might even join the real world and get a job and contribute like the rest of us. – STEVE MAYES, Victoria Road, Stanford-le-Hope.