Paragraph 7 reads “He said: ;There was extensive calling at her door from reporters which caused her – and she was suffering from depression anyway – to suffer more’.”
Paragraph 9 reads: “The judge said: ‘The recurring theme every time you come before the court is this: ‘you are not responsible for your actions, it’s always somebody else’s fault, or ‘I’ve been taking medication, I’m the victim of abuse’.”
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/07/02/spain-getaway-mum-slammed-by-judge-91466-24061369/
Spain getaway mum slammed by judge
Jul 2 2009 WalesOnline
THE Spanish getaway mum escaped a jail sentence today for shoplifting – but was told to stop blaming everyone but herself for her troubles.
At Newport Crown Court, Judge Eleri Rees gave the woman a supervised community order but told her: “It’s your fault.”
The 38-year-old – who cannot be named to protect her children – first hit the headlines when she flew to Malaga to teach her moaning daughters aged 11 and 14 a lesson.
The jobless mother was then arrested for being 30 minutes late for court after underestimating the train travel time.
She pleaded guilty to two charges of stealing a total of £42 worth of clothing and accessories from stores in Pontypridd and Tonypandy.
Her lawyer Nicholas Gedge said his client had been in a state of turmoil at the time of the offences, as a result of being in an abusive relationship and her inability to cope with the media attention after her conviction for cruelty to her children.
He said: “There was extensive calling at her door from reporters which caused her – and she was suffering from depression anyway – to suffer more.”
But Judge Rees told the defendant she needed to start taking responsibility for her actions.
The judge said: “The recurring theme every time you come before the court is this: ‘you are not responsible for your actions, it’s always somebody else’s fault, or ‘I’ve been taking medication, I’m the victim of abuse.’
“It’s never your fault. It is truly shocking that you still think you did nothing wrong last year.
“You complain that the Press took an interest in your case but you were protected from having to face the true backlash in a community that knew who you were and what you had done.
“You chose your partners. You complain that they are abusive to you but you make that decision.
“I’m not condoning anyone being violent but it’s your choices that are wrong.
“You have one last opportunity.”