IT has not been a good week for justice - either here or abroad.

A week in which the trial into the murder of Damilola Taylor ended with serious questions being asked about the police and the Crown Prosecution Service.

A week in which a North-East shoplifter cost taxpayers £10,000 by opting for crown court trial after stealing a tin of spaghetti.

A week in which a man was jailed for recovering - or stealing in the eyes of the law - lost golf balls from a lake and selling them. Enterprise might have been another word attached to his activities.

And, finally, a week in which six UK planespotters were convicted of espionage in Greece and left facing jail terms.

It is preposterous that the planespotters should face prison and all diplomatic efforts must be concentrated on overturning such a disproportionate sentence.

As the son of one of the planespotters put it: "They are a bunch of anoraks with a strange hobby, but it is not something they should be jailed for."

It is to be hoped that commonsense prevails by the time the legal cogs have fully turned, because it is unthinkable that they really will end up behind bars.

But, while we are protesting about the shambolic nature of Greek justice, we should take time to remember that the law is frequently seen to be an ass in this country, too.