HERO OF THE WEEK: The Portsmouth Slasher

EVER been on the motorway, stuck behind the car in the middle lane which seems to drift a bit to the left, then the right, as though the driver's thoughts were elsewhere?

When you eventually pluck up the courage to drive past them, you see the driver is talking on a mobile phone.

Which is illegal. Three points and £60 at least, apparently. Yet, how many people do you know who have been prosecuted? I know none, but I do know a woman who was told off by a rural policeman for speaking on her mobile while riding a horse.

If I can bank on being nicked for doing 35mph in a 30mph zone - simply because it's a cheap way of raising cash - then the police should be doing the same for people who speak on a mobile while driving.

And it appears someone in Portsmouth agrees with me. I quote from the Portsmouth News:

"A mystery vigilante is punishing drivers who talk on their mobile phones while driving – by slashing their tyres.

Up to 20 motorists have emerged from their homes to find their tyres have been punctured overnight.

And the phantom slasher is even leaving notes on his victims' windscreens using letters cut from newspapers.

The note reads: 'Warning. You have been seen driving while using your mobile phone.'Police confirmed they were investigating 20 reports across Gosport, Lee-on-the-Solent, Fareham and Portchester."

Inspector Kevin Cuffe said: “Whoever is doing this may feel they have some sort of justification, but there’s never an excuse to vandalise the property of others.”

I beg to differ, Inspector Cuffe. Sometimes people feel they have no choice - and if people can't be trusted to keep their phones off while on the move (and using hands free simply makes people more likely to start moving their hands while talking and driving) they shouldn't be on the road.

And thanks to the Portsmouth Slasher, many of them aren't.