I INDEED agree with Bob Bamford in his views against Mr Hudson, who is indeed a "do-gooder" from another planet.

I know from personal experience that, with great effort and patience, mischievous boys can be brought into line, but this has to be done at a very early age.

Robert Thompson and John Venebles, who murdered toddler Jamie Bulger, were exceptions as they were "too far gone", even at 10!

It's said "you can't teach an old dog new tricks", and this is the case with teenage children. Again, wayward teenagers can be "tamed", as is the case with certain bullies from school who have turned into decent citizens. On the other hand, others are still getting into trouble at 50.

I'm glad about the storyline in Coronation Street where Kenneth Barlow is being "bullied" by Aiden Critchley. There are too many "Aiden Critchleys" who have parents who defend them, come what may!

I had a similar experience as a youth. Another youth threw some chips and gravy at me for no apparent reason. He was a relative of a friend. This friend believed my story. The youth's father showed no apparent interest and even kept the television on when we went to the house. It cost me 10s to clean my suit and they had no intention of compensating me. Furthermore, I still got intimidation "Aiden Critchley"-style.

If I had a son who had done something like that, I'd be only too glad for someone to bring it to my attention and would make my hypothetical son pay 10 times the amount of damage done.

(Name and address supplied)