CHRISTOPHER Maitland undoubtedly committed dangerous, terrifying and criminal behaviour as a young adult. The trauma would have been hard to shake for the victims of the Hove pub robbery or the police involved in the shoot-out at the church.

But the last ten years in prison have been cruel to the now 32-year-old, who has had a leg amputated due to infection and is suffering from cancer.

His family’s calls for him to be released go to the heart of the justice system’s difficult daily balancing act between protecting the public, punishing offenders, and, where appropriate, compassion.

To what degree all of those should now apply to Mr Maitland is something we hope will be given serious consideration, especially given his critical ill-health.