There are two sides to every story

J Bell, of Ogwell, writes:

While buying my daily copy of The Times, my atention was drawn to the front page of your publication which spoke to me of the ten years of hell endured by certain residents of Twickenham Road, Milber.

I read of the horrific sufferings of those good people at the hands of an alleged monster only slightly lower in depravity than Attila the Hun.

It was with a jolt of surprise that I read the name of this paragon of evil – Arhur De Val. Could this be the same Arthur De Val I had met on two occasisons, a friend of a friend?

With such an uncommon name it had to be he to whom I had chatted at length and found to be well-travelled, well read, highly intelligent, perhaps speaking a little too loudly and quickly but with intersting discourse on many subjects.

I quizzed the friend, the link between us, and was surprised to learn that the neighbours of Mr De Val could be perhaps aiming for Attila status themselves. I was told of paint-stripper on his car, and faeces through his letter box.

Could it really be true that this front page, attention-grabbing article was published before he was actually convicted in court?

Sensation sells newspapers, as we all know, but all involved should realise that there are two sides to every story.