You would equate ruining someone's quality of life permanently with nicking a car? Quite worrying really. How do you know he wasn't a chancer? How do you know he didn't just think nice car, I'll have that, rather than being a career criminal? These people are not sub-human. And to think that is getting into very dangerous waters.
Really? Then why do education and rehabilitation work so well in the justice system?
And that's because you would be a criminal. Call be old fashioned, but I class Grievous Bodily Harm with Intent much worse than nicking a car.
I explained why in my original post, but i will explain again. There is a chance he will attempt to nick another car. There is a chance the next person could be an old lady, and this could prove to much for her. These are possibilities, and chances we cannot take. I dont think it fair to give criminals the chance to nick cars off of old ladys, so stop them before its too late. So, the fact he has already tried to nick someones car, combined with the possible consequences if said person decides to nick a pensioners car, make it a very fair punishment. OK, they may not try and nick some pensioners car, but we cannot take that chance. They have already shown they dont care about other people feelings, so there is a good chance they wont give two hoots about some vulnerable pensioner.
Yes, the justice system can work, but then you are taking the chance that the car thief will be caught. If they arent caught, then the above is still possible.
Yes, grievous bodily harm with intent is worse than nicking cars in everyday situations, but not when it comes to dealing with this car thief, for the reasons stated above.
Finally, for these car thieves, yes i think ruining their way of life is very fair, again, for the reasons stated above. I dont think they deserve to be given the chance of ruining other peoples lives. So stop them in their tracks.
OK, if it was me having my car nicked, i severely doubt i would be able to smack someone over the head (unless i really did need to). But I would never have a go at someone that did. Take that farmer for instance. He should never have been sent to jail. He did a good deed. The thief deserved it.