I totally agree with mata hati and vhg in that the mother, in my opinion, turned her son in and what is unusual in this case is that it was the MOTHER. Parents and particularly mothers see their children through rose coloured spectacles and they can do no wrong. How many times have we seen over the last 2-3 decades the situation where a mother has appeared on TV, usually in tears, extolling the virtues of her son who was in custody on a charge of rape or murder. "i know my son and he is incapable of doing such a crime" In one nameless part of the country, N.W England with 2 premiership football teams, they have a code of their own which involves the term, "the Family" and thet close ranks defending any criminal act perbetrated by one of the "family" With this deep seated and prevalant mentality, incidence of crime will never change. Well done Carol.