WAS there not a curious fact buried away in the reports last week of the murder of convicted drug dealer John Neale and his wife, who were stabbed to death at their South London home?

For it was disclosed that the Rolls-Royce-driving Mr Neale had been released from jail in June after being sentenced to two years in prison last February for dealing in cocaine and possessing amphetamines and Ecstasy.

That means that, at best, he can have served no more than five months of the 24 to which he was sentenced.

Everyone knows that the difference between nominal sentences and those actually served amounts to a game of make-believe nowadays.

But when things have reached the ludicrous pitch of a societal menace such as a drugs dealer going free after serving less than a quarter of the term imposed by the courts, then just what deterrence is there for this evil?

Perhaps, our tough-on-crime Home Secretary can explain.

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