Why this killer deserves life

The case of PC Jeff Tooley shows the law is an ass when it comes down to causing death by dangerous driving.

As Judge Anthony Thorpe pointed out, you can get a longer sentence for robbing someone's house than you can for mowing down a traffic policeman.

The villain who killed PC Tooley at a speed check in Shoreham and failed to stop was sentenced to just seven years. He will probably be released within five.

He had been drinking and was speeding. He is a convicted robber. He showed callous disregard for the life of a brave young officer.

Yet John Heaton from, Brighton, has got away lightly for his heinous crime because the law has not been adjusted to take account of flagrant driving abuse.

Changes are needed either to make death by dangerous driving an offence which carries higher penalties than at present or to introduce a new offence for the worst and most deliberate cases of causing death on the roads.

PC Tooley was doing his job and paid for it with his life. And life is what a villain like Heaton should have got.

A party town

Brighton and Hove is going to celebrate the millennium in style with a big New Year's bash.

Thousands of people attended last year's fun in the Old Steine which was a successful trial run.

This party, the first of several bashes over the New Year, should make the whole town centre one great celebration.

Whether or not Brighton and Hove succeeds in getting city

status it's becoming more and more The Place to Be.

Butch bunny

When Harvey bullied other bunnies at Jarvis Brook School in Crowborough, there was only one action that staff could take.

Because he'd broken school rules, the rascally rabbit had to be expelled.

He may look cuddly enough, but the children now know Harvey's no funny bunny.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.