Third paragraph from the end reads: “Stephen Constantine, defending, said: ‘Ms Fergus suffers from depression and this offending was a result of combining drink with her prescribed medication’.”
http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/Easington-tyreslasher-wore-pink-pyjamas.5509772.jp
Easington tyre-slasher wore pink pyjamas
Published Date:
30 July 2009
By Rob Freeth
A drunken woman dressed herself in pink pyjamas before going out at the dead of night to slash car tyres.
Joanne Fergus did not know the owners of the vehicles she damaged, Durham Crown Court heard.
Fergus, 25, of Glenhurst Road, Easington Village, admitted three charges of criminal damage on January 23 this year.
She has no previous convictions, but has police caustions for a public order offence and possessing a small quantity of amphetamine, and she received a penalty notice for being drunk and disorderly.
Judge Esmond Faulks sentenced Fergus to a nine-month supervision order, and ordered her to pay £282 compensation.
“You slashed the tyres of cars belonging to neighbours who had done nothing to you,” the judge told Fergus.
“It was a disgraceful thing to do and I hope you are ashamed of yourself.”
“A neighbour in Easington saw a figure crouched down beside a Jaguar car,” said David Wilkinson, prosecuting.
“He then saw a flash of metal, which was later confirmed to be a kitchen knife.
“The neighbour was able to tell police the person with the knife was a woman dressed in pink pyjamas.
“Officers cruised around the immediate area and the only house with a downstairs light on belonged to Fergus.
“She was wearing the pink pyjamas when she answered the door.”
The court heard Fergus admitted she had been out slashing tyres, but could not say why she had done it.
“She had been drinking and was upset due to an argument with her boyfriend,” added Mr Wilkinson.
“One tyre on the Jaguar was found to be slashed, as well as two tyres on a Peugeot, and another two tyres on a Vauxhall Astra.”
Stephen Constantine, defending, said: “Ms Fergus suffers from depression and this offending was a result of combining drink with her prescribed medication.
“The incident was also borne out of a domestic argument with her boyfriend at the time.
“She can pay compensation, although her income from benefits is £120 a week, from which she has to look after herself and her young daughter.”
* Last Updated: 30 July 2009 12:44 PM
* Source: n/a
* Location: Sunderland