PRISONER 57

Wesley Snipes was sentenced to three years in jail for tax evasion yesterday. He was found guilty in February of three misdemeanours for failing to provide tax returns. He and two accomplices defrauded the Inland Revenue Service of a tidy sum. The US government claimed that Wesley owed them $15m was also accused of wasting the time of the tax department by repeatedly asking for copies of confidential documents.

Last week prosecutors asked that Wesley face the full wrath of the courts when sentenced and be given the maximum term of three years, as well as a fine of $5m.

"This case cries out for the statutory maximum term of imprisonment, as well as a substantial fine, because of the seriousness of defendant Snipes' crimes and because of the singular opportunity this case presents to deter tax crime nationwide," said the attorney in a letter to the court.

Sigh. When the tax men scent blood they really are more ruthless than sharks. As it turned out Wesley wasn't given a fine, which means he will have plenty of tobacco and soft toilet rolls to see him through the next three years.

And no one thinks about the bigger picture, so we the innocent suffer, because how is Wesley going to replenish his funds in the future? 'Blade IV', that's how. As if we haven't all paid a heavy enough price already...