Give Judge Hopmeier A Round Of Applause!

A church thief was so angry about his girlfriend’s mother being evicted from her flat he threatened to kill her neighbour’s children.

Adrian Robertson, 40, told the woman: “I have been in prison for 22 years. I’m going to kill you, and if I don’t kill you I’m going to kill your children.”

His girlfriend Rebecca Mills, 32, shouted violent racial abuse and said: "You got my mum kicked out. I’m going to have you.”

As habitual criminals often do, they relied on the lax court system to ‘punish’ them as lightly as possible.

They admitted all the charges against them, Kingston Crown Court heard yesterday.

Prosecutor Alastair Smith said that Mills’ mother had been evicted due to a "history of problems" with neighbour Ms Rossiter who lived downstairs.

Not that their familiarity with the court procedures has taught them any respect. Why would it?

Robertson, who used to live in Mole Court, Ewell, and now lives in Guildford, repeatedly tried to speak during Thursday's court proceedings and his phone rang twice during the court hearing. Judge Michael Hopmeier told him: "You face a sentence on serious charges and have to understand that the likely sentence is an immediate custodial sentence.”

Robertson tried to interrupt again while the judge was outlining his bail conditions and Mr Hopmeier said: "Just listen or I may change my mind."

Robertson replied: "I’m sorry I didn’t mean to interrupt."

Judge Hopmeier said: "Then don’t."

Heh! In some countries, that would add to the sentence!

Zarah Dickinson, defending Robertson, said he had been using drink and drugs at the time of the threats to kill, but was now having drug treatment and staying at a hostel in Guildford.

She said: "He feels very frustrated that he may end up back at square one when he’s turned a corner and made progress.”

Once again, the passive voice, as if this latest little mishap were like the weather, something totally unconnected to Robertson’s own actions…