There could hardly have been a starker contrast...
In Middlesbrough today, hundreds lined the streets to pay their respects to Corporal Andrew Roberts, who lost his life serving in Afghanistan.
A letter read out on behalf of his three children, Jessica, six, Kyle, five, and Kayla, three, said: "We love you, Dad, to the moon and back. You were our hero and we miss you greatly - we will never forget you."
Meanwhile, the name of Middlesbrough woman Natalie Hornby was being dragged through the mud at Newcastle Crown Court after she co-ordinated a scam to dupe wounded soldiers out of thousands of pounds.
Already jailed for the con, the mother-of-three, and three other women from outside of the area, were the subject of a proceeds of crime hearing.
Because she has no assets, Hornby was ordered to pay the token sum of just £1.
I appreciate that there is nothing the law can do to reclaim more of the stolen money.
I simply hope she finds a way to repay her debt to wounded soldiers when she comes out of prison.
And that she feels thoroughly ashamed of what she did for the rest of her life.
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