MY SISTER WAS ONLY DOING HER JOB

I refer to your report (Two jailed over 'drug haven' homeless centre,
December 18), concerning the sentencing of my sister, Ruth Wyner.
Following your earlier excellent article and leader (December 15), it
was disappointing that you published such an unbalanced report. You
present the judge's view, which certainly should be reported, but with
no other information.

Overstream House was funded partly to help drug addicts, so it is not
surprising that many were there. Indeed, at the trial, a prosecution
witness who used the centre said he disliked having the addicts there
but Ruth explained to him why it was necessary - it was their remit.

Dealing was not "rife". Many hours of video evidence were obtained and
there were a few minutes only of dealing shown, of which the centre
workers were unaware at the time. Ruth always tried to co-operate with
the police, who were very visible on the video and frequently present
at the centre.

When Ruth was first charged, 18 months ago, a policeman said to her
"How does it feel to be a martyr?" Ruth's many supporters now have the
difficult task of getting as rapid an end as possible to her
"martyrdom". She was doing a very good job, of tremendous value to the
community. She's now in Holloway, with a five-year sentence, hundreds
of thousands of pounds have been spent putting her there, and
Wintercomfort is suffering. Is this the way we want to tackle the
drugs problem in this country? The drugs tsar has been notably silent
on the issue.

Angela Brown
London