I AM writing as a member of the community that cares about the way we bring our children up.

In the early hours of September 14, I was yet again the victim of a crime.

Last time I was the victim of a burglary committed by a 16-year-old. The punishment he received was weak.

This time someone has not only just run over the roof of my car, but they appear to have jumped on it, causing such a dent that I fear it will be a write-off.

Of course my insurance company will pay for replacement, but only after I pay the excess. I will lose my no claims discount and it will affect my work for a while.

I am disgusted that such offences occur, however I am not surprised because youths have no idea about respect. They don’t even fear their parents.

Whatever happened to phrases like ‘just you wait till your father gets home’ and ‘children should be seen and not heard’?

I am only in my early thirties, so I am not some grumbling old man complaining about when I were a lad. I just cannot believe what is happening to our society.

All I ask is that parents start keeping an eye on their children right up until they leave home and remind them that the way your child behaves is a reflection on the way you bring them up.

Be ashamed and embarrassed if your child is out on street corners, running over cars, ruining other people’s livelihoods.

Further to that, if you are aware that your child was out in the Accrington area with a group of teenagers on the night of September 13 until the early hours of September 14, it could have been yours who caused the damage to not only my car, but several others on the street.

Personally, I would like to see these people locked up in places like borstal or I’d like to break something of value that belongs to them, but of course that will never happen because of their human rights. What about my human rights?

MR I COULSON, Accrington.