Repentance.

As a teacher, I hear the word 'sorry' used on countless occasions by pupils who know that this is the 'magic' word.

When I was a JP, it was the solicitors making unending claims of the deepest sorrow on behalf of the most unrepentant scallies imaginable.

Sadly, repentance can be neither viewed nor measured from the outside and unless tangible evidence of that which is claimed is produced - it should carry no weight in the legal system.