WHEN a convicted rapist goes on a terror rampage, assaulting and robbing defenceless women, a life sentence seems suitable. But "life" is definitely not what it used to be.

Stuart Partington "terrorised and tormented" four women in Bolton last November in a six-hour spell, which left damaged lives and spoilt business dreams in its wake. Victims, as reported in the BEN today, believed they would be raped or killed, or both. Yet Partington's "life" sentence is likely to involve him serving "at least eight years."

For the victims and for society, this is surely not enough assurance. If "life" is not to mean just that, perhaps the terms of the law should reflect the actual years involved. Then the public would know how British justice really views individual crime and punishment, and be able to react accordingly.

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