Express & Star comment: Those who prey on the vulnerable deserve our contempt

And for the latest piece of cast iron evidence, look no further than the case of distraction burglar Patrick Flynn, who appeared at the city’s crown court yesterday.

Together with his father Gerry, a career criminal with 68 previous offences to his name, the 19-year-old targeted the home of a 94-year-old woman.

The pair had sought out a house where people were vulnerable and would allow them to execute a distraction burglary.

While Flynn the elder was jailed for three years and six months, his son was only handed a suspended sentence, meaning he currently has his liberty intact.

You would think that for his involvement in this heinous act, Patrick Flynn would be punished with a lengthy spell in jail.

Indeed, many people would consider society to be a better place if they locked him up and threw away the key.

It is, unfortunately, typical of our criminal justice system to allow him to walk away from court.

Our lawmakers obviously don’t consider the possibility of him continuing his criminal ways.

Somewhere along the line, the criminal justice system has become swamped by a politically correct obsession with rehabilitating offenders.

Why do the authorities insist on protecting criminals while their victims are left to pick up the pieces?

Those who prey on the vulnerable deserve our utter contempt.

They are the lowest of the low, and when they appear before a judge there should be absolutely no leniency.

Furthermore, there is a strong argument to suggest that Patrick Flynn may actually benefit from a spell behind bars.

Episodes such as this bring shame on our legal system.

It proves yet again the long held theory that the law is an ass.