I was surprised to read that Nick Morgan had been charged with criminal damage in respect of defacing a political (Tory) poster (The Argus, May 1).

One may have thought that a night in police cells was punishment enough for low level damage – given that any sentence for such criminal damage is non custodial.

Perhaps the authorities were clamping down and making an example of Mr Morgan after a series of damage to billboards.

If so the arrest and reporting of it appears to have done the trick. So why push for a prosecution?

Personally I feel too many of such posters are a waste of money and I suspect they have had minimal impact since the mid-90s.

Let’s pity the good magistrates who may have to hear this case. Some may have to step aside owing to their political views.

S Zapello
name and address supplied