Heartwarming Tales ?

Only if you've a hardened heart, mind. What kind of person could get a smile out of this tragic headline ?

"Joey Barton to remain in custody"

A couple of weeks back Sam Tarran reported on the vandalism of the Christmas crib in the city of Worcester - for the third successive year. Amazingly, the drunken perpetrator, already on bail for two assault charges, was actually remanded until January 11th.

Alas, it was just too good to be true.

A teenager who spent Christmas in prison after stealing and damaging nativity figurines outside the Guildhall will be home for New Year. Christopher Geisler was remanded in custody last week after District Judge Bruce Morgan said he could not understand why anybody would commit such an offence. Today 18-year-old Geisler, who had admitted theft and criminal damage at an earlier hearing, appeared in the city's Magistrates Court to answer questions about the offences. He was released from custody and granted bail, on condition he resides at his home in Leopard Road, Newtown, reports to Castle Street police station in Worcester between 5pm and 6pm every Thursday, and attends a probation appointment.

UPDATE - and the Barton news was also too good to be true. After all, you get bail for suspicion of murder.