Lenient sentence

At Action on Elder Abuse, we were appalled to read your story (Mail) about the three care home workers spared jail despite their brutal abuse of a 71-year- old lady with Alzheimer’s at Brookside House care Home in nottinghamshire.

this is despite the fact they were caught on camera dragging Joy Lewis out of bed, denying her food and drink and leaving her sitting in her own urine. How can such appalling treatment of a vulnerable older person not be deemed worthy of a custodial sentence?

We want to see an end to these lenient sentences — which are neither punishment nor deterrent. that’s why we are campaigning for elder abuse to be made an aggravated offence, so our judiciary is empowered to hand out tougher punishments that truly fit the crime. Stephen McCarthy,

england director, action on elder abuse, London, SW16.