I WAS shocked to read (LET, April 25) that an unemployed man had been sent to prison for 15 months for taking a few fish from the River Ribble.

To give a man a criminal record because he takes a few fish from a river is monstrous and a travesty of natural justice.

It is time the outdated Game Laws were repealed and buried in the distant past.

The sole purpose of the Game Laws dating back over 200 years was not to preserve stocks of game, but to prevent the half-starved farm workers from augmenting their low wages.

Transportation for life to what is now Tasmania was the penalty for the third offence of poaching.

A pervert preacher who indecently assaulted a 10 year old was not sent to prison.

He was fitted with an electronic tag for six days; on the seventh day, it was taken off to allow him to go to his church to preach the gospel.

So, there is only one conclusion - that the preservation of fish or game takes precedence over the welfare of little children.

LESLIE JONES, Aviemore Close, Audley, Blackburn.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.