The price of austerity

Iain Johnstone of Tuckers’ Manchester office, successfully persuaded the court to impose the minimum possible sentence on George Stringer, notwithstanding the fact that he had previously received a longer sentence for a similar offence, of possessing a bladed article.

However, the real story in this case, reported in the Manchester Evening News is the fact that this very vulnerable individual was practically trying to be arrested and imprisoned, as the help he really needs from society does not exist.  The result is a spiral of despair, which is likely a significantly bigger drain on the public purse as the justice system and the prison estate are expensive substitutes for proper welfare.