Letter: Victims of child pornography

Sir: In today's Independent (18 August), both Richard Ingrams and Glen Newey express sympathy for the schoolteacher who killed himself after being charged with possessing child pornography. Because he was not actually interfering with these children, neither man seems to find his crime anything to get upset about.

Where do these two believe the children come from who are exploited for the creation of such pornography? Are they so lacking in empathy for anyone except their own kind - middle-aged, middle-class men - that they cannot imagine the fear and shame these boys feel? I don't know if Glen Newey has young male grandchildren, but I know Mr Ingrams does. If at some future date his little darlings are used in such a way to gratify dirty old men, I hope he can continue to practise what he preaches.

JULIE BURCHILL

Brighton, East Sussex