Family's anger over prison sentence

Glenn Richardson, of The Spinneys, was suffering from depression when he committed the offences on May 30.

He had no previous convictions.

Glenn pleaded guilty to criminal damage to his own property at the first opportunity and was remanded in custody.

And because of constant adjournments, he had to appear in court seven times. He had been held in Lewes Prison for five months before he was finally sentenced on October 28 at Hove Crown Court to 11 months jail.

Because of his period on remand, he will probably be released at some time next week.

Glenn, 43, is a tetraplegic and wheelchair-bound after surviving a suicide attempt by jumping from the 150ft cliffs above the Cliffe industrial estate in 1997.

Said his father Keith Richardson: 'Since then he has lived alone, bravely fighting off bouts of depression and also coping admirably when moved from his home after the October, 2000, floods.

'He has tried to be independent and care for himself and his home, with help from his family in Lewes, but with very little support from Care in the Community services.

'Far from being a nuisance and a burden on society, Glenn has achieved many positive things in the last five years including home and international sporting honours in bowls tournaments for the England disabled team.

'Glenn is an ex-Priory School pupil and was a successful environmental health officer in Lewes and elswhere, but living alone for 15 years brought on depression.

'His latest breakdown was a cry for help not a malicious criminal act because he couldn't manage to live alone any more and needed help with his disabilities and the company of similarly disabled people.'

Lewes MP Norman Baker has raised the case with Prisons Minister Hilary Benn.