I was totally shocked by your front page picture (The Argus, April 20) which showed, according to the caption: "FRAIL: Dennis Halford, 78, is helped into..."

Unfortunately it was clear he was not being helped, as he not only had his hands handcuffed together but was also cuffed to a female prison officer.

What on earth did the authorities think he was liable to do - vault over the dock and attack the judge?

Whatever his alleged crime, surely a man of his age is entitled to what we are told are our basic human rights.

Imagine the outcry if an illegal immigrant or a Iraqi prisoner of war is treated similarly.

In such circumstances, we would be rightly appalled at such treatment so could someone explain to me why it was necessary to treat this elderly gentleman in such a barbaric way?

I would also question why it was thought necessary to keep Mr Halford in custody instead of being placed on bail in the care of his family.

Once again, where was the compassion we are constantly told is a basic human right?

Perhaps The Argus could mount a campaign on a real and local human interest story along the lines of "free Dennis Halford", instead of devoting countless column inches to the about-to-be-relegated-again Brighton and Hove Albion and their pathetic fight for a new home.

After all, who was it who allowed the Goldstone Ground to be sold from under their feet in the first place?

-Chris English, Ovingdean