I’ve decided to start listing occasions where Judges forget how to do their jobs.

It seems to me that the courts don’t want to send women to prison, they haven’t for a while. I keep seeing incidents of women being let off from prison, despite committing a prison-worthy offence.

It’s becoming really common or, it feels like it. So, being the sort that I am, I’ve decided to start compiling a list.

Anytime I see a criminal be spared jail because “muh, vagina“, I am going to list it here. I will, sometime soon I suspect, add historical cases as well.

I will initially be aiming for serious offences: offences that resulted in death, serious assault, sexual offences, false allegations, child abduction, fraud, that sort of thing. I’ll see how this list develops.

Many times a woman is let off, the Judge cites her status as ‘mother’ as the reason for her freedom. This, however, seems not to apply to men, them being fathers is not a valid reason to spare them from being sent to prison – unless if we as a species have started practising agamogenesis.

I read an article today (23-08-2017) detailing how prisoners are being banned from seeing their children as a punishment – hundreds of children are having contact time with their fathers cut to just two hours a month.

Yet, visiting rights are different in women’s prisons, where guidelines state that children “should not be penalised from visiting or contacting their mother because of the mother’s behaviour” and that the number of visits by children “should not be restricted in order to serve the needs of an incentive scheme“.

This does not apply to men. Duh.

This is sexism in action.

This is misandry in action.

This is gynocentrism in action.

The List will start small but, over time, will undoubtedly grow.

I am more than happy to accept submissions.

[Addendum (08 – 09 – 2017): I’ve noticed a minor trend and I am of the firm belief this trend will soon develop into a major trend. Several of these women have evaded justice because they were drunk. Yes, losing agency through drinking means you lose culpability but, only if you are a woman. For men, alcohol is an aggravating factor; for women, it is a mitigating factor. Maddening.

Another thing I have noticed: Manchester. Manchester seems incredibly liberal when it comes to freeing female Defendants. I’m glad I don’t live there with those misandrists.]

[Addendum (15 – 09 – 2017): Oh, for goodness’ sake! The Centre for Criminal Appeals (CCA) has advertised on their blog they are seeking to hire someone to act as a Women’s Justice Advocate (archive). It’s a full-time, 12-month fixed term contract earning £35K p/a plus pension contribution. The full job description can be found here; no such male-equivalent position exists. Oh, and would you look at that!? Its founder is in cahoots with George Soros. How am I not surprised!?]

[Addendum (22 – 10 – 2017): #WWSBIP has made it into the national press! We did it, team! We’re famous! I don’t mind that the reference to #WWSBIP is only fleeting, it still counts!]

[Addendum (27 – 12 – 2017): According to an article in The Independent (archive), women receiving shorter sentences is now a form of oppression to which the only solution is NO prison. Yes, that’s right, women being treated leniently by the system, favoured over men, is a form of oppression against women. The double-think is staggering!]

[Addendum (20 – 03 – 2018): Firstly, these additions are beginning to pile up. Second, I am now beginning to list the relevant statutes with the cases. I will not do this too often as it takes up a serious amount of space.]

The List:

10 – 01 – 2018: Caroline Geoghegan – Theft and False Accounting

Link – Link(2) – Archive – Archive(2)

Caroline Geoghegan, 45, from Seaford, East Sussex, did start taking petty cash from her employer, Eastbourne accountants Plummer Parsons, in June 2015. She had been with the company for ten years. She continued and upgraded to paying out about £21,000 of cheques to cash, graduating to raising two cheques for each invoice. Her deception continued until August 2017 when she was caught out by a random twist of fate, by which time she had paid herself £133,698.

The first one she made out to herself by having the client’s name printed on clear tape then getting one of the partners to sign off. Then she would take off the tape and substitute her own name. Geoghegan opened up three bank accounts specifically to deposit the stolen money. It came to light in August when a client contacted the company querying a payment. The computers had gone down due to a power cut. Mrs Geoghegan was on leave and someone else looked into it and they discovered a number of cheques made out to her benefit.

Judge Recorder Joshua Swirsky agreed to suspend Geoghegan’s prison sentence after hearing she had paid £108,000 of the money back after her elderly mother released the equity in her home.

Pleading for leniency, Rosalind Crook defending the mother-of-two said her offending had started after her father died suddenly from liver cancer.

She told the court: “Her father became ill at the beginning of 2015. He went to hospital in April and was diagnosed with liver cancer and died two weeks later. She then had to keep going and look after her mother who is in her eighties. She was concentrating on looking after her family and unfortunately started stealing. She doesn’t know why she did it, she just did. Apparently the death of her father started this and there can be a link between death and stealing. Mrs Geoghegan has taken steps to find out why she has done this and what the problem is. She accepts she has a problem with depression and PMT and alcohol. At times drinking a bottle of wine a day.”

Judge Recorder Joshua Swirsky agreed to suspend Geoghegan’s prison sentence after hearing she had paid £108,000 of the money back after her elderly mother released the equity in her home.

High culpability (A):

Breach of a high degree of trust or responsibility

Sophisticated nature of offence/significant planning

Harm:

High value of stolen items (Category 1 – £133,698)

According to the Sentencing Council, the Theft perpetrated contrary to the Theft Act 1968 met the requirements of Category 1 Harm and Category ‘A’ High Culpability which states a sentencing starting point of 3 years and 6 months’ custody with a category range of 2 years 6 months’ – 6 years’ custody.

Factors increasing seriousness:

Offence committed over sustained period of time

Attempts to conceal/dispose of evidence

Established evidence of community/wider impact (for issues other than prevalence)

Factors reducing seriousness or reflecting personal mitigation:

No previous convictions or no relevant/recent convictions

Remorse, particularly where evidenced by voluntary reparation to the victim (questionable!)

Determination and/or demonstration of steps having been taken to address addiction or offending behaviour (questionable!)

Further, where the offender is dependent on or has a propensity to misuse drugs or alcohol and there is sufficient prospect of success, a community order with a drug rehabilitation requirement under section 209, or an alcohol treatment requirement under section 212 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 may be a proper alternative to a short or moderate custodial sentence.

Sentence: Two years imprisonment, suspended for two years

Judge: Judge Recorder Joshua Swirsky

Court: The Hove Crown Court

10 – 01 – 2018: Lauren Fowler – Driving under the Influence of Alcohol

Link – Archive

Lauren Fowler, 25, did in two separate incidents crash her car whilst driving under the excessive influence of alcohol. The first incident, which occurred in October 2017, did involve her drinking when out at lunch with friends and concluded with her buying and drinking to the base a bottle of wine, which was found in her car when she crashed her Ford Ka in an area busy with pedestrians.

Two months later, whilst on bail, she did drink a half-bottle of vodka before going to the gym, which is when she crashed her vehicle into another car when trying to exit the Stanneylands hotel in Wilmslow, Cheshire. At the time of this second collision, she was on bail for the first offence and tests showed she was over three times the drink drive limit.

Prosecutor Joseph O’Connor said of the first incident: “She was swearing and slurring her words and they [Police] could smell intoxicants on her breath… When they tried to speak to her they had trouble understanding what she was saying, she was incoherent and the officers assumed she was drunk. As she was arrested she admitted that she had drunk two bottles of wine and was taken to the police station. She was described as acting very emotionally and she failed to provide a specimen of breath because she was so upset.”

Fowler – a first year doctor – broke down and wept in court as she was told her offending “crossed the custody threshold”, but her jail term was suspended after magistrates heard how she had since managed to quit drinking.

JP Martin Drake told her: “We have considered all the facts of this case and there are aggravating features; the first offence was committed during the day when there were pedestrians around and the second offence was committed on bail and it was a very high reading. This does cross the custody threshold but the sentence will be suspended and this mean you will not be going to prison today. However, if you commit any offence during the next 12 months, another judge has the right to activate that sentence and can send you to custody.”

Drink-driving Penalties:

According to the gov.uk website:

Being in charge of a vehicle while above the legal limit or unfit through drink

You may get:

3 months’ imprisonment

up to £2,500 fine

a possible driving ban

Driving or attempting to drive while above the legal limit or unfit through drink

You may get:

6 months’ imprisonment

an unlimited fine

a driving ban for at least 1 year (3 years if convicted twice in 10 years)

Refusing to provide a specimen of breath, blood or urine for analysis

You may get:

6 months’ imprisonment

an unlimited fine

a ban from driving for at least 1 year

According to the Sentencing Council, as Dr Fowler was more than three times over the drink-drive limit, the starting point is 12-weeks’ custody, the range is a High level community order to 26 weeks’ custody and a Disqualification of 29 – 36 months (extend if imposing immediate custody) but, if it is the second offence in ten years, 36 – 60 months disqualification.

Sentence: Eight weeks jail suspended for a year, ordered to complete 40 hours unpaid work banned from driving for three years and ordered to pay £200 court costs

Judge: Justice of the Peace Martin Drake

Court: Stockport Magistrates Court

23 – 12 – 2017: Unknown Liar – False Sexual Assault Accuser

Link – Archive – Link(2) – Archive(2)

Russian banker Valentin Krzyzyk, 27, was accused of groping a woman and calling her a THOT™ in a posh nightclub. The complainant gave evidence saying she had been hysterical and crying after the alleged incident. But CCTV showed her drinking with pals by Mr Krzyzyk’s table before he shooed them away. She then appeared to carry on drinking before complaining to security, who ejected him. The video was only released to his barrister Narita Bahra on Monday (18th) after months of requests.

But the judge was left baffled when waiter Labinot Citaku told the court Krzyzyk said to him he thought the woman was a ‘thot’. Judge Michael Bromley-Martin QC, said: “Could we just go back to this thot thing. What was this thot?” Mr Citaku replied: “These are what people call ‘table thots’, ‘table whores’ – where they see lots of drinks going to a table, the girls tend to follow the champagne bottles.”

Recorder Michael Bromley-Martin later told the jury there had been a “serious failure on the part of the prosecution to disclose the CCTV” and has ordered an inquiry.

Sentence: None

Judge: Judge Michael Bromley-Martin QC

Court: Southwark Crown Court

18 – 12 – 2017: Louanne Budgen – Drunken Assault

Link – Archive

Louanne Budgen, 33, of Radcliffe, Greater Manchester, did violently assault her wife when in a drunken stupor as punishment for her leaving a dinner party to care for her three children. Three hours after her victim left, Louanne ordered a taxi home, asked for money to pay for said taxi then dragged her wife from their bed by her hair. She then punched Hayley, her wife of 18-months, in the head ‘at least five times’ before storming out of their bedroom. Hayley who is in her 30s suffered pain and minor bruising and called in the police following the attack in the moments before Christmas Day last year. In a statement, she asked for her partner to be subject to a restraining order and told officers: “This incident has made me realise that the relationship is over. I cannot be with someone who is violent… I’m very upset and heartbroken that someone who I was genuinely in love with could do this to me and had harmed me in such a way.”

At Manchester Magistrates Court, Budgen wept as she admitted assault but walked free after she blamed her behaviour on domestic abuse she had witnessed as a child. She said she also suffers from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, which causes her to have high levels of “male hormones”. The court heard Budgen had five previous convictions including criminal damage and assault but there was no history of domestic violence in her relationship with Hayley.

District judge Samuel Goozee remarked: “You have clearly had some trauma in your own upbringing and have been exposed to abuse, but you need to understand what you did to Hayley… Although your children didn’t see anything, if this continues you will be exposing your own children to the behaviour you yourself grew up with… Clearly there’s a lot that’s gone on in your past which is contributory to maybe the way you behaved. The most important thing in dealing with you is for you to be able to work with the probation service. You subjected Hayley to quite a sustained assault whilst in drink… I make no order for compensation, it’s clear you want to reconcile and I don’t want to put anything between that… I hope through the assistance you will get that maybe you have a chance now to put to bed your own upbringing and bring your children up with Hayley in a loving and caring environment.”

Sentence: 12-month community order and £170 in costs.

Judge: District Judge Samuel Goozee

Court: Manchester Magistrates Court

12 – 12 – 2017: Sophia Brogan-Higgins: Assault Occasioning Grievous Bodily Harm and Assault on a Police Officer

Link – Archive

Sophia Brogan-Higgins, 22, did attack Justina Liutkute, a security guard, when she was informed by her she was not allowed to enter a VIP section in the Box Nightclub, to which she replied “Bitch, you don’t know how to do your job, don’t touch me because it’s like sexual harassment”. As Liutkute, 33, started escorting Brogan-Higgins out of the club, the model suddenly punched the victim in the face with a glass in her hand, leaving her victim with a two-inch wound above her left eye that caused her to require two weeks off work after the violent attack.

Then, during police questioning, Brogan-Higgins kicked PC Skelton in the stomach when he tried to stop her wiping Liutkute’s dried blood off her arms. “My opinion was that she was trying to wipe her hands and destroy what could be forensic evidence,” he told the court.

The suspended sentence allowed Brogan-Higgins to go to Cape Town, with the judge adding: “I hope the trip to South Africa goes really well and sets you off on a good path.”

Common Assault or Actual Bodily Harm

An injury that is more than “transient or trifling” lifts a charge from Common Assault to Actual Bodily Harm (ABH), contrary to section 47 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861. Although, there may be exceptional cases where the injuries suffered by a victim are not serious and would usually amount to Common Assault but due to the presence of significant aggravating features (alone or in combination), they could more appropriately be charged as ABH.

Unlawful wounding/inflicting grievous bodily harm, contrary to section 20 of the Act

This offence is committed when a person unlawfully and maliciously, either:

wounds another person; or

inflicts grievous bodily harm upon another person.

It is an either way offence, which carries a maximum penalty on indictment of five years’ imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine. Summarily, the maximum penalty is six months’ imprisonment and/or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum. Wounding means the breaking of the continuity of the whole of the outer skin, or the inner skin within the cheek or lip. It does not include the rupturing of internal blood vessels.

Wounding/causing grievous bodily harm with intent, contrary to section 18 Offences Against the Person Act 1861

This offence is committed when a person unlawfully and maliciously, with intent to do some grievous bodily harm, or with intent to resist or prevent the lawful apprehension or detainer of any other person, either:

wounds another person; or

causes grievous bodily harm to another person.

It is an indictable only offence, which carries a maximum penalty of imprisonment for life.

Factors that may indicate the specific intent include:

a repeated or planned attack;

deliberate selection of a weapon or adaptation of an article to cause injury, such as breaking a glass before an attack;

making prior threats;

using an offensive weapon against, or kicking the victim’s head.

Assault on a Constable in the execution of his/her duty, contrary to section 89(1) Police Act 1996

The offence is committed when a person assaults either:

a constable acting in the execution of his or her duty; or

a person assisting a constable in the execution of his or her duty.

It is a summary only offence, which carries a maximum penalty of six months’ imprisonment and/or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum. If an assault on a constable results in an injury as described in the Common Assault section of the Charging Standard, a prosecution under section 89(1) of the Police Act 1996 will be appropriate, provided that the officer is acting in the execution of his or her duty.

Sentence: 20 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 12-months, ordered her to pay £250 compensation to Ms Liutkute, £50 to PC Skelton, and costs of £920. She was also ordered to serve 100 hours unpaid work, a 15-day rehab activity requirement, and she was banned from The Box for six months.

Judge: Judge Susan Baines

Court: Hammersmith Magistrates’ Court

30 – 10 – 2017: Sahrish Idrish – Murder, Child Cruelty & Neglect

Link – Archive

Sahrish Idris, 25, was detained when paramedics were called to the family home on Mother’s Day 2017 and found three-year-old Aayan lifeless on the bed. He was pronounced dead despite efforts to revive him. Tests were later unable to establish how Aayan died but doctors believe he may have suffered heart failure. His mother claimed she had left the youngster in the bath with his toys to fold some clothes only to find him face down and unconscious when she returned 10 to 15 minutes later.

But inquiries revealed the family had been known to social services after Aayan was taken ill at home in Rusholme, in Manchester, a year earlier when he swallowed three of his mother’s sleeping tablets. A month after the boy’s death, Idris was herself admitted to hospital when she was found with ten razor blades in her handbag having earlier vowed to throw herself off a motorway bridge. She told officers: “Something serious happened that night…something serious…but I can’t say as you are the police”.

It was later claimed she had told a nurse Aayan had not even had a bath on the day of the tragedy. She said: “I’ve told too many lies, nobody knows the truth about the day my son passed.” She was alleged to have told a second nurse: “It’s the guilt because of what I did, you know, it’s my fault I’ve not been truthful with police, they think he slipped in the bath, he didn’t even have a bath that day.” It was claimed she told the same nurse she had previously given Aayan sleeping tablets “just to see what would happen”.

Mark Kellet prosecuting said: “The examination of Aayan showed pathological features consistent with drowning however, the prolonged attempts to resuscitate Aayan meant that there was no direct evidence that he had drowned. A doctor identified evidence of minor head injury, but nothing close to or at the time of death. It did not appear, for example, that Aayan had slipped in the bath.”

The Judge remarked: “This is a tragic case. You left your son alone in the bath for 10-15 minutes and during that time in your absence he suffered an episode or an incident which led to his death… You did not actually harm him in July 2016 and you did not actually harm him in March this year. You did not cause his death and I do not for one moment sentence you on the basis that you did… Expert medical evidence is clear that an episode of SIDS cannot be ruled out as a cause of death. But you were guilty of cruelty to him on the two occasions and you are guilty of putting him at risk to his safety… Since his death you carry the burden of knowing you ill-treated him which you will carry for the rest of your life without the opportunity of making it up to him. You have had a difficult time in your life with substance abuse and domestic abuse and I take all of that into account… You have demonstrated and there is witness evidence to support that your son was well cared for, well fed, clothed and looked after and those are matters that I take significantly into account. My opinion is that these are isolated and one off incidents.”

Sentence: Six month custodial sentence, suspended for two years.

Judge: Judge David Stockdale QC

Court: Manchester Crown Court

18 – 10 – 2017: Karen Eastwood – Driving Whilst Under the Influence

Link – Archive

Karen Eastwood, 50, from Denton, Greater Manchester, did drink to five times the drink-drive limit and was seen veering around the road during the evening rush hour before being stopped by the police, where they found an empty bottle of wine next to the handbrake. This happened just five months after she was previously arrested for another drink-drive offence where she was found to be over three times the drink-drive limit. She was on bail for the original charge when she was caught the second time.

The Judge remarked: “Miss Eastwood, we do agree that the custody threshold has been passed. You fall as a danger to yourself and the public due to the readings in both occasions, each offence aggravates the other… We are going to suspend the sentence due to your lack of previous convictions but you do need some help. We are not going to offer the drink driving rehabilitation course because of the risk you pose.”

Sentence: 16 weeks, suspended for 12 months. Banned from driving for three years, ordered to attend a six-month alcohol treatment course and must pay £300 in costs.

Judge: Chair of the bench, Celia Metcalfe. Unknown JPs.

Court: Tameside Magistrates’ Court

17 – 10 – 2017: Victoria Yellop – Driving Whilst Under the Influence, Reckless Driving, Drug Driving, Driving without Due Care and Attention

Link – Archive

Victoria Yellop, 34, of Stocks Green in Hildenborough, Kent, did consume cocaine to twice the drug-drive limit and, when approaching a junction, failed to check before pulling out into the path of a white Honda bike. The crash sent her victim flying through the air and left with cracked ribs, a fractured sternum and a broken femur. He will have to have a metal pole in his hip for the rest of his life and suffers from poor mobility, is constantly in pain, depressed, unable to work and in financial difficulties.

Interestingly, in July, Ms Yellop was handed a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years, after admitting perverting the course of justice, theft and being concerned in the supply of a class A drug after staging a £25,000 fake burglary at a friend’s house. The court heard her violent and abusive boyfriend had pressured her to commit the crime. He was jailed for five years at a hearing last year (because women lack agency, duh!). District judge Julia Moffatt said she could not activate the suspended sentence as the crash happened before she was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court for her previous crimes. Funny how these things work out.

Sentence: Four-month suspended prison sentence and a six-month curfew from 9pm until 7am. She must pay £85 costs and a victim surcharge of £115, and was banned from driving for three years.

Judge: District Judge Julia Moffatt

Court: Maidstone Magistrates’ Court

11 – 10 – 2017: Cheryl Cottrell: Sexual Assault by Penetration and Committing a Hate-Crime

Link – Archive

Cheryl Cottrell, 30, did attend a house-party where she met her victim, Frank McGowan, and attempted to make sexual advances on him. He tried to fend off her advances, informing her he is a homosexual and in a relationship, only for Ms Cottrell to make invasive and vile comments about his sexuality before sexually assaulting him – an item had fallen off the counter and when Mr McGowan went to pick it up, she forced several fingers inside him. Despite his obvious protests, Cottrell did not stop and it took all of Mr McGowan’s strength to throw her off. The brutal and painful assault left him bleeding.

The attack drove Frank McGowan to the brink of suicide. He suffered post-traumatic stress disorder and more than two years on, he is still haunted by what happened.

In addition, Cottrell was found guilty of causing fear and alarm to her victim. But she was admonished on that charge, meaning she received no fine or imprisonment. She was found not guilty of a charge under section seven of the Sexual Offences Act, covering indecent verbal communication.

Sentence: 120-hours Community Service and placed on the Sex Offenders Register.

Judge: Unknown Sheriff

Court: Glasgow Sheriff Court

04 – 10 – 2017: Kati Ringer – Fraud

Link – Archive – Paper – Link(2) – Archive(2)

Kati Ringer, 21, of Soleme Road, Norwich, did steal photos of other people’s babies from their social media and pass them off as her ow, claiming these children were either sick or dying, so as to solicit donations from members of the public. She admitted at an earlier hearing two malicious communications offences relating to March and April this year. She was jailed for three years in 2015 for 23 similar offences. She said “I’ve already posted pictures saying she’s dead, I’ve got £600 so far” and claimed that the police “would not touch her” (she’s learned the system); she told another victim “she would find out where the victim lived and kidnap and rape her daughter.” She also threatened to firebomb one mum’s house and raked in more than £2,000 from donors worldwide, who fell for sob stories posted on Facebook.

Sentence: Two-year criminal behaviour order that prohibits usage of social media, passing any other person’s photograph off as her own or asking any third party for a donation unless as a legitimate volunteer for a registered charity. 30 weeks imprisonment, suspended for two-years. £225 costs. A Community Order requiring 30 days activity.

Judge: Unknown JPs

Court: Norwich Magistrates’ Court

25 – 09 – 2017: Linda Hoey – Benefits Fraud

Link – Archive

Linda Hoey, 58, of Amington, Tamworth did deceive authorities for 15 years, wrongly claiming £65,244 in disability benefits as well as using a motability vehicle to dodge £15,690 in M6 Toll fees. Hoey falsely claimed she could barely walk and suffered back pain bad enough she had to walk backwards down the stairs and needed to use furniture for support. Photos of her snorkelling on holiday and accounts from colleagues who said she would carry trays of cups of tea exposed what the Judge called “15 years of dishonesty”. He further remarked Hoey told “barefaced lies” and is “someone whose word cannot be trusted”.

Sentence: 18-months imprisonment, suspended for two years and subject to a six-month electronic curfew.

Judge: Judge Michael Elsom

Court: Stafford Crown Court

22 – 09 – 2017: Georgina Bretman – Animal Cruelty

Link – Archive

Georgina Bretman, 28, from Rhu, near Helensburgh, did inject her black-and-white cocker spaniel Florence with insulin such that it made the animal collapse and suffer from convulsions and seizures. The dog could have fallen into a coma or died; no motive could be discerned aside from seeking attention.

Her former employer Lesley Herd grew suspicious after the two-year-old dog needed emergency treatment on several occasions after collapsing, twitching and vomiting. Every time, tests showed a low glucose level. She told the court: “Because of the pattern of collapse and low blood glucose on each occasion and the fact that the dog was normal between episodes, I was suspicious insulin had been administered to the dog.“

Sentence: Community Payback Order. 140 hours unpaid work. Banned from keeping a dog for two years (not banned from working with animals).

Judge: Sheriff Kerr

Court: Glasgow Sheriff Court

21 – 09 – 2017: Helen Adu – Theft and Fraud

Link – Archive

Helen Adu, 50, of Church Elm Lane, Dagenham, was trusted by a 40-year old man to withdraw cash for him from an ATM as he was inebriated and she was a train station security guard. He wished to purchase a ticket for a train. When she gave him his ticket, she retained his card and wallet, using it over a dozen times to withdraw hundreds from his account. She even closed Ockendon station in Essex for 15 minutes so she could withdraw money. During the investigation she remained dishonest and, when arrested, attempted to hide an Oyster receipt down the back of the police car seat; she only confessed when she appeared in court.

Sentence: Community Order to undertake 150 hours of unpaid work and rehabilitation activity for 20 days. £646 compensation, victim surcharge and court costs of £170.

Judge: Unknown JP’s

Court: Basildon Magistrates’ Court

16 – 09 – 2017: Sophia Cooke – Wasting Police Time, False Accusation and Harassment

Link – Archive – Link(2) – Archive(2)

Sophia Cooke, 26, from Bristol, did cheat on her fiancé and, when he found out, launch a sustained vendetta of false allegations and abuse against her ex-fiance, Matthew Baron, 26. She falsely accused him of subjecting her to a two-hour assault in which she alleged he had reacted (to the infidelity) by repeatedly smashing her iPhone into her car stereo, grabbing her by the hair and then repeatedly punched her in the face and body before then gouging her eyes with his thumbs. She said at one point he had spat in her face and mouth and had threatened to kill her, leaving her so frightened that she had been forced to climb into a tree to escape.

She told the court: “He punched me on the side of the nose. I fell onto my bottom. I put my hands up expecting to find blood and was surprised there was none. I could taste his spit in my mouth… He grabbed me towards him and repeatedly jabbed me in the groin and was saying, ‘was it worth all this?’… He said, ‘you deserve to be under the tyres of this car and repeatedly driven over’.”

Mr Baron admitted slapping the dashboard of her car in anger but, vehemently denied assaulting Miss Cooke. He said “She had me banned from my college, she had me banned from the college bar. She bragged that she was going to write to the editor of a journal in which I had been published and accuse me of being violent, it has made my life in Cambridge almost untenable. People look at me as if I am sub-human, it has been the hardest time of my life.”

The Chairman of the Magistrates’ Bench found Miss Cooke’s version of events to be “inconsistent and not credible”.

Sentence (Cooke): Nothing

Sentence (Baron): Conditional discharge, £300 compensation for damage to car stereo, £300 court costs and a £20 victim’s surcharge.

Judge: Simona Rockall as Chairman of the Magistrates’ Bench & Unknown JPs

Court: Huntingdon Magistrates’ Court

14 – 09 – 2017: Michelle Kershaw – Theft

Link – Archive – Link(2) – Archive(2)

Michelle Kershaw, 45, from Mossley, Tameside, Greater Manchester, did steal £1,600 worth of goods from a disabled client (Guitar, Synthesis & iPhone; he has brittle bone disease) and did sell them on to fund her addiction to painkillers. She was meant to be acting as his carer, she was hired through an agency. She later falsely claimed they were gifts given to her by the victim. She received welfare payments, but got involved with an escort agency to make extra cash to support her family (she’s a single mother of three children).

The Judge remarked: “We do feel for your situation, but that doesn’t not take away from the offence you have committed … This could have been a very different ending and you could have ended up in custody. But neither of us want that … I know you have not been before the courts before and hopefully you won’t be here again.”

Sentence: 12-month community order, 100 hours unpaid work, pay £1,600 compensation and £500 court costs

Judge: JP

Court: Manchester Magistrates Court

11 – 09 – 2017: Jeanette Fidler – 200+ Convictions, Too Many Too List

Link – Archive – Link(2) – Archive(2)

Jeanette ‘The Magpie’ Fidler, 44, from Oldham, Manchester, did enter Salford Community Leisure Centre and break into various lockers thus, breaching her Criminal Behaviour Order (she is banned from all leisure centres, gyms and hotels in the UK). She has 217 previous convictions, all for similar offences. She has been burglarising for approximately 17 years, using the goods/money to pay off her drug habit – she is addicted to heroin – and is a single mother of three children.

The Judge (same Judge & Court as the Katie & Chloe Lomas Case: 29 – 08 – 2017) remarked: “You have umpteen previous convictions but I’m not going to send you to prison as I think this will encourage your little boy to get involved with the kind of life you have lived.” No, the reverse is true. Him growing up in such a household will encourage bad behaviour, him seeing the failings of the British ‘Justice’ System will confirm bad behaviour.

Sentence: 12-month Community Order

Judge: Judge Bernadette Baxter

Court: Minshull Street Crown Court

08 – 09 – 2017: Charlotte Lee – Attempted Murder of a Child Using Poison , Perverting the Course of Justice and Making a False Allegation

Link – Archive

Charlotte Lee, 21, from Seaton, Devon, did dose a two-year-old boy’s fizzy pop drink with enough morphine to kill an 11-stone man whilst the boy was staying in the hospital. The medical staff prohibited the child from consuming fluids yet, Charlotte still gave him the spiked drinks. She attempted to blame the near-murder on the boy’s father, lying to both the medical staff and the police. The judge said he was able to suspend the sentence because she now admits what she did, is remorseful, and is receiving help.

Sentence: Two years imprisonment, suspended for two years, and ordered to receive psychiatric counselling as part of 35 days of rehabilitation activities

Judge: Recorder David Bartlett

Court: Exeter Crown Court

08 – 09 – 2017: Ella MacDermid & Kayleigh Atkinson – Assault, Criminal damage, Threatening Behaviour and Possession of an Offensive Weapon

Link – Archive

Ella MacDermid, 25, and Kayleigh Atkinson, 22, from Padiham, Lancashire, did violently attack Ella’s 52-year-old god-mother Juliette Robinson and her boyfriend Craig Heyes with a 3-foot baseball bat and a brick, and did cause damage to Miss Robinson’s car to the tune of £576. Ella MacDermid was the main attacker whilst Kayleigh Atkinson did encourage the attacks.

Sentence (MacDermid): 12-months imprisonment, suspended for 15 months and to pay £500 compensation.

Sentence (Atkinson): 8-months imprisonment, suspended for 15 months

Judge: Mr Recorder Gary Woodhall

Court: Burnley Crown Court

08 – 09 – 2017: Helen Tweedy – Sustained Domestic Violence and Coercive & Controlling Behaviour

Link – Archive

Helen Tweedy, 45, from Stretford, Trafford, Greater Manchester, did repeatedly attack and harm her husband for twelve years, including an assault on their wedding night in which she smothered him with a duvet and forced him to sleep on the sofa. She would drink herself into a rage and attack her husband and she also controlled her husband’s finances.

When they had a child together, the husband did then install a camera and film her over a period of two months, he feared the police would not believe him. Mrs Tweedy admitted three charges of common assault by beating.

The worst thing is, he defended her actions afterwards! If the sexes were reversed, the feminist-harpies would be screaming “COERCIVE AND CONTROLLING BEHAVIOUR”. He blamed the drink and the JP’s accepted that! Yet again, another woman let go because she can say “sorry, I was drunk!” (See Karolina Szumko, 14 – 03 – 17, for evidence)

Sentence: 12-month community order, 120 hours unpaid work and a 12-month restraining order banning her from contacting her husband.

Judge: Unknown Justices of the Peace

Court: Manchester Magistrates Court

04 – 09 – 2017: Kirsty Gallacher – Driving Whilst Under Influence

Link – Archive

Kirsty Gallacher, 41, from Virginia Water, Surrey, did drive her BMW X4 whilst more than three times over the drink drive limit. She was seen driving erratically before police tracked her down using CCTV. She was on her way to meet her children to visit Windsor Castle on 12 August. Her behaviour did put at risk the lives of others and could have put at risk the lives of her children.

District Judge Davinder Lachhar said the charge was “very serious” and described the level of alcohol in her system as “very high”.

Sentence: Two-year driving ban, 100 hours unpaid community work, £85 court charges and a separate surcharge of £85.

Judge: District Judge Davinder Lachhar

Court: Slough Magistrates Court

30 – 08 – 2017: Foziea Parveen – Driving Whilst Under Influence with No License and No Insurance

Link – Archive

Foziea Parveen, 29, from Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, did drink to nearly three times the legal limit and enter a 155mph BMW, driving across town and was seen to swerve around roads, mount kerbs and ‘bounce’ off a building during a 5am cruise through Manchester city centre.

The Chairman of the Magistrates remarked: “This is an exceptional situation, you could have been involved in an accident, you could have taken a life. It’s simply not acceptable to drink the amount you did and drive a car. All actions have consequences. You are a danger and that is why the maximum ban has been placed for this charge.” Do exceptional situations deserve exceptional sentences? I guess it depends on your definition of ‘exceptional’.

Sentence: 20 weeks jail suspended for 18 months, banned from driving for four years and four months. Electronically tagged for 20 weeks and pay £735 in costs and surcharges.

Judge: Peter Thompson, Chairman of the Magistrates (not a real judge)

Court: Manchester Magistrates Court

29 – 08 – 2017: Katie & Chloe Lomas – (Drunken) Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm

Link – Archive

Katie Lomas, 21, and Chloe Lomas, 19, from Huddersfield Road, Stalybridge, Manchester, both did attack a woman punching her to the floor and both did kick and punch her repeatedly. Chloe’s boyfriend (Sam Donnelly, 24) and his brother (Jack Donnelly, 23) both received sentences for their involvement in the attack, two years for Sam and nine months for Jack.

Sentence: Four months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months (for both).

Judge: Judge Bernadette Baxter

Court: Minshull Street Crown Court (Manchester)

Katie has been ‘dealt with’ before, see below (03 – 01 – 2017). Despite having received two years detention, suspended for 18 months, she has not been sent to prison. Odd.

23 – 08 – 2017: Terry Remmer – Aggravated Burglary

Link – Archive

Terry Remmer, 23, from Sunderland, did break into the house of an elderly man, stole his possessions and sold them on for drug money. She has a history of convictions, including shoplifting and theft.

The Judge remarked: “The gravity is that if you were a man you would be going to prison today … But I have to take into account not only your welfare but the welfare of your child.“

Sentence: 18 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.

Judge: Mark Lowe QC

Court: Newcastle Crown Court

21 – 08 – 2017: Jessica Wells – Death by Dangerous Driving

Link – Archive

Jessica Wells, 22, from Swaffham Road, Wendling, Dereham, Norfolk, was speeding on her motorbike when she hit and killed Ian Rose, an 80-year-old pensioner, as he got off a bus (yes, she was speeding and decided to undertake a parked bus – WTF!?).

Sentence: Four months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.

Judge: Judge Philip Katz QC

Court: The Old Bailey (London)

Compare this to the case of Charlie Alliston who was riding a pushbike when a woman walked out into the street without looking (she was allegedly looking down at her phone) – he even shouted out to warn her. Despite only travelling around 10-14 mph, Judge Wendy Joseph QC has made it clear she is considering a jail sentence for Alliston. He faces a maximum penalty of two years’ imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.

16 – 08 – 2017: Chenelle Joseph-Thomas – Serious Theft

Link – Archive – Link(2) – Archive(2)

Chenelle Joseph-Thomas, 38, from Carmelita House, Dawes Road, stole a total £24,000 from two of her previous employers (approx. £12,000 each).

Cllr Emma Will, head of education at the council, said: “The judge has sent out a clear message with this sentence that this sort of stealing will not be tolerated.” Ha!

Sentence: 20 months in prison, suspended for two years, 250 hours of unpaid work and £100 victim surcharge.

Judge: Unknown

Court: Westminster Magistrates Court

16 – 08 – 2017: Rose Amadasun – Child Abuse

Link – Archive

Rose Amadasun, 49, of Beauchamp Road, Croydon, starved children for days at a time and would beat them with belts and wires whilst shouting “Jesus“. She also blindfolded them and would shake them when they made noises.

Sentence: 16 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, 150 hours’ unpaid work and up to 25 days of ‘rehabilitation activities‘.

Judge: Unknown.

Court: Croydon Crown Court

11 – 08 – 2017: Natalie Saul – Theft and Fraud by Abuse of Position

Link – Archive

Natalie Saul, 37, from Wandsworth, South London, did steal £348,439 from her employers after she blew £250,000 playing poker online. The mother-of-one submitted more than 400 fake invoices to get the cash from the software company between March 2015 and December 2016. Lucie Daniels, defending Saul, had argued her client was ‘shaken’ by the loss of her grandmother in 2013 and was a committed charity worker. Yet, Ms Saul perpetrated the thefts between March 2015 and December 2016.

She created fake invoices to company account system then, using her knowledge of the auditing system she amended the bank details to match her own. She paid the invoices to herself then changed the bank details back to the original supplier. She then marked the invoices as paid. She did this over 400 times. To reiterate, she did this over a 21-month period.

This was a premeditated and excruciatingly calculated crime.

Judge Newman said she was on the brink of giving her a sentence of three years and four months, before being persuaded she was unfit for prison.

The Judge admitted her sentence was “wholly exceptional” and fell outside sentencing guidelines and she also remarked Ms Saul is “not the general stuff of which the prison population is made”. She added “I’m taking a considerable risk that the Crown will think it lenient and appeal, but it’s a risk I’m willing to take.”

Sentence: Two-year suspended sentence, 250 hours unpaid work and must pay £360 costs

Judge: Judge Catherine Newman

Court: Southwark Crown Court

24 – 07 – 2017: Lynn Taylor – Embezzlement

Link – Archive

Lynn Taylor, 56, who has been living in Portugal, did embezzle Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society of £220,331.12 over the period of nearly seven years. Instead of directing funds to a pension scheme, she directed them to her personal account, using her status and position of trust to conceal the transfers.

The Judge remarked “It is noteworthy that shortly after the embezzlement was discovered you repaid £100,000 and subsequently paid the remaining £110,000 as well as £40,000 costs incurred by the charity when raising civil proceedings against you to recover the money stolen by you… I understand that by taking those proceedings against you the money was recovered by April 2016… As some explanation for your behaviour I was advised your counsel that you had been badly affected by the death of your brother and other close family members and had been concerned at your daughter’s health.. It does appear however that much of the money embezzled was used by you in the owning of horses and participating in show jumping activities.”

Sentence (direct from the Sheriff): “Eight-month Restriction of Liberty Order, discounted from the maximum 12 months, from 9pm to 6am each night to reflect your early plea and co-operation with the process and in addition will make a 12-month community payback order where you will require to undertake 200 hours of unpaid work. Once again this is discounted from the 300 hour maximum.”

Judge: Sheriff Frank Crowe

Court: Edinburgh Sheriff Court

10 – 07 – 2017: Victoria Yellop – Perverting the Course of Justice, Theft and Being Concerned in the Supply of a class A Drug

Link – Archive

Victoria Yellop, 34, of Stocks Green in Hildenborough, Kent, did conspire with her then-boyfriend Mark James to break and enter into the property of Yellop’s friend and steal his property in a staged burglary, resulting in the ‘theft’ of £25,000 worth of goods. Ms Yellop reported the break-in to the police, informing them she had been house-sitting and, when returning from a night-out, found the front door and window smashed.

However, neighbours had seen Yellop at the property as the stolen items, including up to 80 pairs of limited edition trainers and several designer watches, were loaded into a waiting vehicle. More than 40 designer baseball caps, two Tag Heuer watches, a Rolex and an Armani watch, bottles of Champagne, several pairs of sunglasses, two guitars, an expensive microphone, designer aftershaves and £3,000 in cash were stolen.

The jury heard that Yellop had been “coerced and dominated” by her violent boyfriend, Mark James, who had bullied her into helping him commit the crime after she agreed to look after the property for a friend (nice removal of female-agency). Police searched the home Yellop shared with James in Langton Green, near Tunbridge Wells, and found cash, watches, electrical equipment, £1,000 worth of cocaine and drugs paraphernalia including a “tick list” of deals written in Yellop’s diary, and deal bags in a washbag (evidently Ms Yellop is in on the drug trade). Many of the stolen goods were found in a storage unit hired by Yellop in Flimwell, East Sussex. Police also discovered a safe containing cocaine, a cutting agent, scales and weights, which Yellop insisted was for personal use (sure, she personally used it to rack up and sell the cocaine but, that’s just semantics).

Her boyfriend was jailed for five years for his involvement at a previous hearing last year. Then aged 37, he admitted theft, assault causing actual bodily harm, possession of a class A drug with intent to supply and an unrelated road-rage attack.

Judge Philip Statman said while the appropriate sentence was two years’ imprisonment, he could “temper justice with mercy” and suspend it for two years.

Sentence: Two years imprisonment, suspended for two years.

Judge: Judge Philip Statman

Court: Maidstone Crown Court

26 – 06 – 2017: Lavinia Woodward – Unlawful Wounding

Link – Archive

Lavinia Woodward, 24, did stab Thomas Fairclough in the leg with a bread knife and hurled a laptop, glass and jam jar at him, all whilst under the influence of cocaine.

Judge Ian Pringle said it would ‘too severe’ a punishment to prevent her from becoming a surgeon.

Sentence: Will occur on September 25, unlikely to face prison. Has been given a restraining order and told to stay drug-free and not to re-offend.

Judge: Ian Pringle

Court: Oxford Crown Court

[Note: I did a full review of this case which can be read by clicking this sentence. I also link below my case study video review. Enjoy.]

27 – 05 – 2017: Joanne Linsley – Benefits Fraud

Link – Archive

Joanne Linsley, 51, of Twizziegill View, Easington, Saltburn, was overpaid £20,794 in Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment Support Allowance between January 2014 and October 2016 after failing to declare she already had £50,000 in a second bank account. Teeside Crown Court heard she had received ‘bad advice’ from friends (sounds like they conspired with her). She pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud by failing to disclose capital affecting benefits, and faced a potential 21-month prison sentence; she is repaying £100 a month.

The Judge remarked: “Can I make it clear from the outset that you’re not going to prison today. I can see that you’re frightened and you’re worried about that… I’m persuaded that the reason you committed these offences was because you listened to friends who gave you bad advice about what was going to happen to the money you got as a result of your parents’ will… I would be very surprised if the courts ever saw you back in front of them for any further offence.”

Sentence: Four-month imprisonment, suspended for 18-months.

Judge: Judge Deborah Sherwin

Court: Teeside Crown Court

14 – 03 – 2017: Karolina Szumko – Racial Abuse, Assault and Drunken & Disorderly Behaviour

Link – Archive

Karolina Szumko, 18, from Poland, did hurl a racially abusive tirade at bouncers because they rejected her from a club because she was too drunk. She also slapped the manager. When arrested, she continued her abuse but aimed it at officers and became more violent as well, spitting at them and hitting them. The violence continued even whilst being processed in Charing Cross Police Station.

Such quotes of hers are: “You f***ing black, you shouldn’t be standing between us … You are going to f***ing die, f***ing racists, pretend to be white but wish Merry Christmas to Muslim people … you f***ing b*tch, f***ing pigs … British p*****s, you don’t believe in any f***ing nation, you are going to f***ing die.”

The Judge remarked: “I dare say you were not aware of what was going on, and I accept what happened wouldn’t have happened apart from drinking, you are genuinely sorry … I’m not going to send a lady to prison for something like this [Emphasis mine].”

Sentence: 150 hours Community Services and £200 Victim Surcharge

Judge: Deputy District Judge Adrian Turner

Court: Hammersmith Magistrates Court

31 – 01 – 2017: Gintare Suminaite – Infanticide

Link – Archive

Gintare Suminaite, 30, did throttle her new-born baby girl, the product of a secret affair, at a bedsit she shared with her boyfriend, to prevent the truth becoming public. Suminaite denied murder but, admitted infantcide claiming she had become “mentally disturbed” by the ordeal of giving birth.

The court heard Suminaite arrived in the UK in 2009 and moved in with her English partner in 2011 before they had a child. But the relationship broke down and Suminaite began an affair around February or March 2015. The boyfriend knew he was the father of the child when Suminaite fell pregnant and hoped she would travel back to Lithuania with him.

But she made no registration of her pregnancy, attended no ante-natal classes and hid it from her partner. Her partner had been working a night shift and awoke at around 2.40pm to hear the shower on. Suminaite eventually allowed him into the bathroom, where her found her naked and covered in blood next to a baby bath.

The Old Bailey heard how she wrapped her hands around the child’s throat and squeezed “as hard as I could” before holding her daughter under the shower in a bid to drown her. Suminaite then cut the umbilical cord with a razor blade before tying her underwear around the infant’s neck and placing her in a baby bath on 5 April 2016. The tiny body was found the following day after Suminaite’s English partner called an ambulance to the flat they shared in Bognor Regis, West Sussex when he found her bleeding heavily.

Suminaite kept her pregnancy hidden from her partner, who she has another child with. He had no idea she was expecting until she confessed she had “done something bad” after falling pregnant during an affair. Suminaite lost up to four litres of blood, while the cause of death of her baby was given as “ligature compression of the neck in a neonate, born alive, following uncontrolled labour and congenital pneumonia”.

The judge, Mr Justice Nicol, told her: “The unlawful homicide of anyone is a tragedy, especially that is the case when the victim is so young, even more so that is the case when the child died at the hands of her own mother… However, your circumstances were tragic in themselves and that is reflected in the nature of the offence to which you have pleaded guilty… Infanticide was made an offence in 1938 as an alternative to other forms of homicide in recognition of the extreme pressures from which some women suffer during or shortly after giving birth… Over recent years, the courts have recognised it is rarely an offence that requires a custodial sentence.”

Sentence: Two-year community order with a 60-day rehabilitation requirement

Judge: Mr Justice Nicol

Court: The Old Bailey

03 – 01 – 2017: Katie Lomas – Causing Serious Injury By Dangerous Driving, Driving Whilst Over The Alcohol Limit and Driving Without A Licence Or Insurance

Link – Archive

Katie Lomas, 20, of Huddersfield Road, Stalybridge, Manchester, did drink to 8-points over the legal drink-drive limit, enter and drive a motor vehicle without a license nor insurance and did deliberately drive said vehicle towards her ex-boyfriend, causing him head and chest injuries including “complex” skull fractures, a punctured lung and knee ligament damage, from which he continues to suffer.

When sentenced for this offence, she was on bail for a drunken assault involving her and her sister. The courts were unaware of this at the time of sentencing – she was sentenced for the assault later (see above, 29 – 08 – 2017).

Sentence: Two years detention, suspended for 18 months, ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and attend courses with the Probation Service.

Judge: Judge Recorder Samantha Presland

Court: Minshull Street Crown Court (Manchester)

17 – 08 – 2016: Annmarie Moylan & Samantha Sangwine – Possession of an Offensive Weapon and Assault on a Police Officer

Link – Archive

Annmarie Moylan, 21, from Harpurhey, Manchester, and Samantha Sangwine, 24, from Wythenshawe, Manchester, did both enter their neighbours’ home brandishing kitchen knives in a tirade following problems with drinking and late night music. When arrested, Samantha did spit at an officer. Sangwine has no previous convictions but two cautions in 2013 and 2010 for offences against the person, including ill treatment of a child. Moylan has 38 offences against her, the most recent of those seven years ago. In 2007 and 2008 she was 12 or 13 years old and most of her crime involved some form of assault. They both admitted possession of an offensive weapon and Sangwine admitted assault of a police officer.

The Judge remarked: “On February 11 on this occasion you were both living in supported accommodation whilst no doubt in drunk or some form of intoxicated state… There was a nasty incident which distressed them and led to you all living separately… You are both self-indulgent, foolish women who need to be brought up short and need to take responsibility for your lives, especially since you both have children… You must both understand that knife crime is serious, the presence of knives at any event where tempers are likely to be lost is a bad idea. We all know incidents where the presence of a knife can lead to serious injury and death… You are both fortunate young women.”

Sentence (Moylan): Eight months imprisonment, suspended for two years and a rehabilitation activity requirement for 30 days to ‘address her life’.

Sentence (Sangwine): Eight months imprisonment, suspended for two years. Three-month curfew between 9pm and 7am and a community order already in place will continue.

Judge: Judge Martin Rudland

Court: Manchester Crown Court

12 – 04 – 2016: Gemma Keefe – Arson, Perverting the Course of Justice and Making a False Allegation

Link – Archive

Gemma Keefe, 29, of Fareham, Hampshire, did ignite her own home, which had her three-year-old son and a friend of hers inside, and then blamed her estranged husband and his new partner for the attack. The stress of the accusation caused the new partner to suffer a miscarriage.

Sentence: 12-month community order with 12 months of supervision

Judge: Judge Roger Hetherington

Court: Portsmouth Crown Court

17 – 06 – 2015: Rebecca Minnock – Child Abduction, Breach of a Court Order and Contempt of Court

Link – Archive – Court Papers – Link(2) – Archive(2)

Rebecca Minnock, 35, from Highbridge, Somerset, did fail to attend family-court hearings on 27th May 2015, fleeing with her three-year-old son, Ethan, so as to prevent the boy’s natural father, Roger Williams from having contact; she feared he would win custody of their child. She surrendered herself to Oxford Police Station on Friday 12th June following a national Press campaign.

Rebecca Minnock’s boyfriend, Andrew Butt, was sentenced to 28 days imprisonment for his role in the incident – he lied to the police about Rebecca and Ethan’s whereabouts. Rebecca Minnock’s mother, Louise Minnock, was also jailed for 10 days for her involvement.

The Judge remarked: “I have previously described Ms Minnock’s actions in making off with Ethan as ‘utterly irresponsible’. I adhere to those words. It would be patently wrong to suggest that Ms Minnock was so overpowered by protective maternal instinct that she was driven to behave in the way that she did. Her behaviour was manipulative, attention seeking and truculent. It caused immense distress to many. It caused a very large amount of public money to be wasted… Any idea that this sort of action will go unnoticed by the court is wrong. Parents who flout court orders are the scourge of the system. It is only the mercy of the father that spares this mother. Had the contempt proceedings continued before me and led to a finding of contempt I make no concealment of the fact that I would have sentenced her to immediate imprisonment which I anticipate would have involved a sentence of at least 28 days in prison. As it is, I think that the father’s wishes should be respected. He and Ethan are the victims of this mother’s actions and I consider that the father’s voice should prevail. She owes her liberty to him. She must never fail to comply with court orders again; they will be my orders in the future, as I will now be the judge of these proceedings subject to the direction of any higher court.”

Sentence: None. Literally, nothing.

Judge: HHJ Stephen Wildblood QC

Court: Bristol Crown Court

09 – 05 – 2015: Unknown Liar – Serial False Rape Accuser

Link – Archive

An unknown woman falsely accused a 22-year-old man of rape, sending him into a 15-month ordeal which resulted in the jury clearing him in under an hour. Yet, the two had never even had sex. The stress of the accusation forced him to drop out of university and he went from being an easy-going person to being “tearful and fearful”. He said “I can understand how some young men have been driven to suicide … I will never be the same trusting and carefree person I used to be.” When the case hit trial, the family learned there was no physical evidence save the allegation itself, which went through multiple iterations and changes and was never actually checked out by the police. The complainant “had a history of mental illness, depression, attention-seeking behaviour and lying. Most shocking was that this was the second time she had falsely accused a man of rape.”

Sentence: None

Judge: Unknown

Court: Winchester Crown Court

09 – 03 – 2015: Tania Clarence – Murder & Infanticide

Link – Archive – Link(2) – Archive(2)

Tania Clarence, from New Malden, South West London, smothered daughter Olivia, four, and three-year-old twins Ben and Max because they were disabled. Allowed home on weekends and allowed contact with the remaining surviving daughter. She was seen by 60 different ‘professionals’.

Tania Clarence was “overwhelmed” with having to care for her children, who all suffered from the muscle-weakening condition Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type-2, a serious inherited neuromuscular condition that can shorten life expectancy.

60 medical professionals were involved in the case, according to the Case Review. Social services met shortly before the killings to discuss child protection measures.

The husband was away in South Africa when the killings occurred, Tania then attempted a suicide.

SHE WAS ALLOWED HOME JUST 13 MONTHS AFTER HAVING KILLED THREE OF HER FOUR CHILDREN!!! SHE’S ALSO BEEN ALLOWED CONTACT WITH THE FOURTH CHILD!!! SHE WASN’T EVEN SENTENCED TO PRISON, ONLY SENTENCED TO A HOSPITAL ORDER!!!

She was granted a hospital order rather than prison due to mental health. Her illness? Stress, feeling overwhelmed and low self-esteem. According to the Sentencing Remarks, her “personality characteristics both made [her] more susceptible to develop a major depressive disorder and prevented the full extent of the disorder being recognised by others; and that it is a feature of your depression that you have consistently minimised symptoms both before and since the fatal events… In the result you suffered the major depressive episode to which I have already referred – in consequence of which you perceived that the situation could only get progressively worse, and that there was little that you could do about it.”

Kingston Local Safeguarding Children Board (KLSC) commissioned an independent review, which found a “lack of consensus” among professionals over the right care for the children and “professional concern” about the mental health of Clarence – she refused counselling.

The report said, in July 2013, consideration was given to involving the police but according to the social care records, St George’s Hospital “did not think that would be helpful”. It said: “The concerns during this period, in the view of the authors, reached the threshold for child protection intervention, but this did not happen, despite references to legal intervention.”

Sentence: Hospital Order

Judge: Mr Justice Sweeney

Court: The Old Bailey

09 – 12 – 2014: Yasmin Thomas – 18 Convictions for Assault and Breaching of a Suspended Sentence

Link – Archive

Yasmin Thomas, 21, did attack Mr Ronnie Lee, a total stranger to her, in Bar So nightclub, Bournemouth, with a broken glass, causing a serious gash to his left eyelid which needed stitches and two smaller cuts to his face. The injuries were so close to his eye, it was feared he might lose the eye.

The court heard Thomas had displayed “unacceptable behaviour” three times since she was sentenced for the attack.

The Judge said he was willing to give her “a chance”. He also said he would not reveal details about Thomas’s past in open court in case she found them embarrassing.

Sentence: 12-months suspended for 2-years. 80-hours Community Service. Ordered to attend an anger management course. Ordered to pay £1,000 compensation to Mr Lee, and £150 in costs.

Judge: Judge John Harrow

Court: Bournemouth Crown Court

09 – 02 – 2013: Grace Adeleye – Manslaughter by Gross Medical Negligence

Link – Archive – Link(2) – Archive(2)

Grace Adeleye, 67, of Sarnia Court, Salford, did circumcise four-week-old Goodluck Caubergs in April 2010 using scissors, forceps and olive oil; she was paid £100 for the procedure. The child was cut in his home in Chadderton, Greater Manchester, and was a victim of the traditional African procedure known as “clamp and cut”. The victim was severely wounded during the procedure and later bled to death. When contacted by the mother, Grace did inform the mother he would be fine and would simply require breastfeeding. The mother contacted medical professionals but Goodluck died in hospital because of blood loss. Grace Adeleye had been hired as she had set herself up as a mobile circumcision clinic for Christian parents; many were unaware the (barbaric) surgery is available on the NHS. Grace soon retired from the practice.

The Judge remarked: “It was a tragedy, he was a perfectly healthy baby, he was not ill he had no need of medical care and he would not have died if you had acted with the care expected of you as a nurse … No sentence would bring him back or ease the grief his family must ensure, the pain of losing him will stay with them what the rest of their lives … His mother said it was a tragic accident but says she can’t find it in herself to wish you any ill feeling or that you be sent to prison. I accept that you showed genuine remorse for his death.” – No sentence would bring him back, does that mean all other killers can use that as a defence – help them evade jail!?

Extra notable Information: It emerged during the trial that up to three children a month are admitted to the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital due to bleeding after home-based circumcisions … Most circumcisions in the UK are done for religious reasons but currently no formal qualifications are required to perform the operation … The Crown Prosecution Service’s Jane Wragg said the case “was not about the rights or wrongs of circumcision, but the grossly negligent way in which the procedure was undertaken“.

Sentence: 21-months imprisonment, suspended for 24 months

Judge: Justice Keith Lindblom

Court: Manchester Crown Court

25 – 05 – 2010: Unknown Liar – Serial False Rape Accuser

Link – Archive

An unknown woman drove a man to suicide by crying rape and forced a second innocent man to consider taking his life after falsely accusing him of a similar sex attack. Despite being exposed in court as a serial liar, legal restrictions mean the 21-year-old woman can never be identified. A jury took only 45 minutes to clear medical student Olumide Fadayomi, 27, of rape. But several jurors at Sheffield Crown Court broke down in tears when the judge revealed the ‘victim’ had a history of crying rape.

Judge Patrick Robertshaw launched a stinging attack on the Crown Prosecution Service for making Mr Fadayomi stand trial. He said:

“The evidence did not, and was never going to, prove rape. The prime overriding consideration in the CPS’s decision had been merely that the complainant wished the case to go ahead… It was little short of a craven abdication of responsibility for making an independent and fair-minded assessment of the case… It is quite astonishing these decisions are made by those who simply do not have experience of what happens in Crown Court because they never come into Crown Court… They sit behind desks and make decisions that result in this sort of trial taking place.”

Sentence: None

Judge: Judge Patrick Robertshaw

Court: Sheffield Crown Court

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