SIR – We read of a young lady awarded £160,000 against Bradford Council following many years of parental sexual abuse, the reports of which are horrendous (T&A, September 16). If we add the legal costs, then the total bill for us, the council tax payers, must be £300,000 at least.

It should not be beyond the wit of the council to examine its records and identify which of its handsomely-paid officials were personally responsible for disregarding this evident catalogue of abuse, then promptly holding them to account. Disciplinary charges of gross incompetence should be anticipated which, if proven, should then lead to the immediate dismissal of all the staff involved.

Such a level of incompetence which leads, not only to a child being abused for many years, but also to the employer bearing a £300,000 penalty, cannot be allowed to pass without direct personal consequences on those actually responsible. But somehow I think it will.

Graham Hoyle, Kirkbourne Grove, Baildon