SIR – I was not too thrilled to read Mr Phillpott’s idea for sending people threatening violence to a “lunatic asylum”.

This does nothing to foster compassion for those of us, like myself, who suffer from mental illness, but it does show how much the press has done much towards classing me and my friends as pernicious individuals.

Yes, when ill we can be aggressive and abusive, though mild in our usual character, but our disability is neither caused by immorality or an excess of liquor. I hope Mr Phillpott has an extremely mild temperament and is never given to anti-social argument or temper. If so, he is extremely blessed.

GILL HAYWARD
Worcester