SIR: I wish to comment about the way your paper covered the story about the nuisance neighbour from hell (Scott Atherton, BEN September 20). Also 'Warning to others' (BEN September 22).

While I fully agree with the article that nuisance neighbours should be evicted and/or sent to jail if they refuse to comply with the law, I also think the story was very one-sided.

The council seem to be gloating now over their victory in having Scott evicted, even to the point, it may seem, of making an example of Scott. What they failed to mention, however, is that the same council working alongside Social Services allocated Scott the flat in the first place, knowing full well that he suffers from a mental disorder, and were warned beforehand. And, to the best of my knowledge, that's exactly what he was left to do.

May I suggest that some time in the future, you should write about the numerous mentioned patients that are shoved onto the community under the pretence that they'll receive 'Care in the Community' when, all too often, this is not the case. Then, when something like this happens, it's merely put down to 'loss of contact'.

Scott Atherton has, sadly, been neglected by his carers in the community, and that is why he is now imprisoned.

A Friend,

Little Lever, Bolton.

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