Our columnist argues that demonising the small-time con is a convenient distraction from the master criminals who have ripped off billions from the public purse.
A mother was jailed for a year for a £34,000 benefit fraud in a case which exemplifies perfectly our country's double standards.
Emma Tanner fiddled the system over a three-year period but this was no great heist.
In January, a Perth woman was jailed for 16 months for swindling a similar amount from the system.
I am not condoning their behaviour but the sentences are ridiculously punitive.
Surely a community payback order would have been more fitting and of greater benefit to society and Tanner's child.
Tanner, who has no previous convictions, claimed she was a single mum when her husband was still living with her on and off.
But she was still skint, there was no Bentley in the drive.
When we have bankers roaming free who have screwed billions from small businesses and the public purse, this is political posturing. This is hanging the less well-off for a lamb while the rich are running off with a sheep.
Tax evasion and corruption in this country cost us billions but demonising the small-time con is a convenient distraction from the master criminals.