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.