WHAT a crazy world we live in! It is now possible to make money by being in jail. Prisoners suffering stress due to rioting hit the jackpot.

The legal profession, no doubt, has jumped on the cash making bandwagon by representing their prisoners, seeking compensation.

In 1944, I suffered stress and trauma in the British Army, administered by many Warrant Officers and NCOs.

Most of my comrades survived this and managed to keep out of the mental hospital next to the depot and then continued our service to ensure more stress and trauma in the Malayan jungle, being attacked by Chinese terrorists, crocodiles, snakes, leeches and the occasional tiger.

Our reward for this was two quid a week in wages and then, finally, a "demob suit," grey "Mac." a trilby hat, a ticket home and a tenner to spend.

Fifty odd years later, those of us still alive have to mange on 'basic' old age pension.

I am about to rush out and consult a solicitor about the terror and stress caused by a very fierce Guards sergeant major who is responsible for my nightmares over the past 50 years.

Perhaps it is true that crime does pay!

MAURICE McHUGH, Marlowe Crescent, Great Harwood.

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