PRINCIPLES can be costly as motorist Lynne Mullinder found.

She appeared before local magistrates on Friday for failing to buy a 70p parking ticket for the town hall car park in Skipton.

She claimed that she had gone into town to get some money and intended to buy a ticket on her return.

Despite an exchange of letters, Craven District Council refused to waive the penalty and decided to take the matter to court.

Believing that she had done nothing wrong, Miss Mullinder, a probation officer, chose to contest the case. She wanted someone to listen to her side of the argument.

She did not seek legal representation, thinking, perhaps naively, that she would give her explanation and that would be an end to the matter.

Instead she ended up with a court bill of more than £500 - a £100 fine and £439.45 costs.

This raises two questions: was this trial really in the public interest and was her punishment fair?

Just a quick look through recent court papers show a £50 fine for using threatening behaviour, another £50 fine for damaging a window, a £69 fine for using a false cheque, a £60 fine for speeding and an £80 fine for theft.

Where is the justice in that?