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Another
chance for Asbo mum
A JUDGE has given a mother-of-three who repeatedly breached
an anti-social behaviour order (Asbo) one last chance.
Sharon Coyne, 34, was arrested as she called her mother on Easter
Sunday from a phone box in Kentish Town Road – an area
she was banned from entering by an Asbo issued in February this
year.
Following a passionate plea by defence solicitor Judy Snowball,
District Judge John Perkins decided to grant Coyne bail.
But, he warned any repeat behaviour would see her thrown immediately
into jail. Coyne, who is staying at St Mungo’s Hostel,
Endell Street, Covent Garden, was arrested after police found
her in a phone box in Kentish Town Road on Easter Sunday. Officers
chased her as far as Buck Street, and she was held in custody
until yesterday’s hearing at Highbury Corner Magistrate’s
Court.
Prosecuting, Rahena Choudhury said Coyne was banned from entering
Camden Town and specified parts of Camden, Islington and Westminster.
On arrest, Coyne told officers “I’m allowed in this
area”.
Ms Snowball, defending, asked the court to impose a suspended
sentence, saying Ms Coyne was not a “suitable candidate”
for an Asbo and had breached the order several times previously.
She said her client had been diagnosed with a serious mental
health condition and led a chaotic lifestyle until she began
treatment at St Mungo’s.
Ms Snowball said: “She is not recorded doing anything criminal
or anti-social. She was about to ring her mother about her three
children. She’s a lot healthier and happier, it may be
that she had a yearning to see her children.”
She said Coyne was at “absolute breakdown” when issued
with the Asbo and asked the judge to bear in mind she was standing
in a phone box, not committing a criminal offence.
Delaying sentence until May 10 for reports, Judge Perkins granted
bail, telling Coyne: “For breaching this order I could
impose several years in prison. You may have children in that
area but for now you may not go within that area because your
behaviour is anti-social and a misery to the community.”
Granting bail, Judge Perkins warned he would have no hesitation
in jailing Coyne if she breaches the Asbo again, adding: “Don’t
let me down.” |
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