Thanks again for the interesting comments, especially Carol and Tom, for confirming what I believed, that there was no point in the English court system downgrading the charges to a minor charge, and to Jan for the info on whole families committing crimes to be together; a worthy point on free passage, as I've been told of cases where letters were written home advising family to commit a minor crime so they could be transported - and benefit from a healthier lifestyle, good food, better weather - gee, who wouldn't want to come to Australia? Cheers Trish