Ref. 20992-11AN ELDERLY widow who chased burglars from her home has poured scorn over Government plans to encourage criminals to apologise to their victims in return for a reduced sentence.

Jenny Partridge, 89, was confronted by two men who pretended to be from the council before barging their way into her home and demanding her pension book.

But they ran away when she refused to hand over the book and threatened to call the police.

Today she criticised the idea of giving criminals a chance to reduce their sentences. She said: "I don't think they should be allowed to get away with it. If they have done something wrong, they should pay for their crimes.

"There should not be an easy option. They deserve everything that is coming to them. I don't want anyone to say sorry to me. They should not break the law in the first place."

The so-called "restorative justice" method was outlined by Home Secretary David Blunkett as part of wide-ranging plans to reform the criminal justice system. It comes a week after new figures showed crime on the rise in Swindon and the surrounding area.

If the moves get the go-ahead offenders and the people they have robbed or assaulted will come face-to-face after the crime.

If the criminal apologises and promises to make amends they may not be taken to court or, if the matter is pushed before a judge, may get a shorter sentence.

Mr Blunkett insisted it was not a soft option and said it was more than about just saying sorry. He said an out-of-court apology would have to be agreed by both sides.

Under the system offenders and victims would meet up in the presence of a mediator. Sometimes family members from both sides will attend the meetings, which could result in the criminal agreeing to pay compensation to the victim or to do a good deed in the community.

The same system has been in place in the youth justice system for some years. The meetings usually take place after a guilty verdict has been returned. But under the new plans, launched on Tuesday, the Home Secretary is proposing to make it an alternative to prosecution.

Mr Blunkett said: "Many offenders find it hard to face up to the real impact of their crimes. It provides the victim with an explanation of why the crime was committed something a prison sentence on its own can never do, and can enable victims to move on and carry on with their lives."

The plan will be tested in a pilot scheme in the next few years. It will look at using the restorative justice method for sex and race-hate crimes.

Area manager of Victim Support Wiltshire, Peter Ferguson, said: "The principle behind the idea of restorative justice is excellent. While we welcome the idea of the scheme being expanded, it is important that it should be genuinely victim-led.

"We don't want a victim of crime to be put any pressure to meet the perpetrator of that crime unless they are entirely happy to do so. The victim should always have priority.

"That said, when both parties are happy to meet, it can be a very positive process for both the victims and the offenders."