NO one would envy any child who has had to spend long periods in local authority care.

Regardless of the dedication and hard work of staff, life in a children's home can never be a substitute for the security of a loving family.

And there is a particular problem in children from care adjusting to life alone when they reach their 18th birthdays.

But all that said, there cannot be a single parent who will understand how a teenager who has admitted driving while disqualified, with excess alcohol and without insurance could be treated to a Caribbean holiday ultimately paid for with public money.

A court heard that the youth, who has also been taken to Disneyland Paris, had been appearing in court every month but "slowed down" his offending over the past 15 months.

He might well benefit from seeing different environments - but not on a trip to Jamaica that very few in this area could afford.

A camping and walking expedition to Scotland would be a more realistic way to build character and discover more about yourself.

No teenagers should be treated to lavish foreign jaunts on the taxpayer - especially when they are still committing crimes.