Investigating Her Social Media Prior To Hiring Wouldn't Have Helped This Time...

A prison officer caught kissing a drug dealer inmate who she 'picked' above all others has been spared jail. Disturbing bodyworn camera footage shows Tracy Boateng, 27, lean in multiple times as she makes the inappropriate contact with Vincent Ojo at HMP Pentonville.

About the only time her name and 'lean' have probably ever featured in a sentence togather!

Boateng had admitted misconduct in a public office through engaging in an inappropriate relationship with Ojo between February 25 and April 19 last year. At Snaresbrook Crown Court today, the senior prison officer was handed a 12 month sentence, suspended for 24 months. Evidence against Boateng, who is from Dagenham (Ed: !!), included the bodyworn camera footage of the pair kissing and hugging, the court heard.

Yes, Reader, you read that right - she's so dim she elected to do this while wearing a body camera! 

Sentencing, Judge Caroline English... 

 I don't recognise the name, but wonder if she was the woefully progressive female judge that presided over the second trial I served on? 

...told her the 'exceptional' feature of the case was her three-month-old daughter and that Boateng had avoided prison because of the impact it could have on the young girl.

Can't help but feel the removal of such a parental influence could only be a good thing for the poor little mite... 

Let's Have More Female Judges!

To bring their 'unique perspective' to the justice system!

A drunk businesswoman who glassed a pub drinker after he wrongly guessed her age has been spared jail after a female judge said 'one person's banter may be insulting to others'.

So assault with a potentially deadly weapon can be excused? Really?

Mother-of-one Joanne Dodd, 39, flew into a rage and attacked Carl Cooper after he suggested she was 43 in the beer garden of the Unicorn pub in Manchester city centre on September 9 last year. Mr Cooper fled to the toilet in a bid to get away from the heated situation, but when he came out Dodd ran towards him and twice shoved her wine glass in his face.

Not even in the heat of the moment, then? 

At Manchester Crown Court, Dodd, who is from Swinton in Salford, faced up to three years in jail under sentencing guidelines after she admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm. However, she was spared jail and handed a suspended sentence after Judge Elizabeth Nicholls said she was a 'dedicated, hardworking woman' who posed no risk to the public.

Contrast this with her words to a male offender:  

“You are not a teenager, you are 35 and mature enough to understand that you should stop and face the consequences.”

No such consequences for the 'fairer sex', eh, Lizzie? You were pretty lenient with a schoolboy who stabbed his teacher in the face with sissors too, though. And came down pretty harshly on pedophile hunters rather than pedophile victims, it has to be said.

The judge told Dodd: 'It is obvious that you had been drinking heavily and there was undoubtedly some verbal exchange between you and the other group.

'You did not appreciate the comments made by Mr Cooper and one person's banter may be insulting to other people but that did not justify what you then went on to do.'

Why are you trying so hard to justify it for her, then? 

'Your conduct was incomprehensible.

'The only explanation that can really be put forward is that you were under the influence of drink, which does you no credit.

I though judges had to know Latin? Like, in vino veritas?  

'It was no doubt traumatic for Mr Cooper and it would have had an impact on him. Fortunately he seems to have made a good recovery. 'I have seen the photo where the scar is barely noticeable but to him it will be a constant reminder of your conduct on that night. There was a very unpleasant injury, it is a grave injury, but fortunately there is no permanent disfigurement.'

If he has a visible scar, that's permanent disfigurement, no matter the size or hidability.  

'There is no doubt that this offence is so serious that it crosses the custody threshold. The issue is whether the sentence is immediate or can be suspended.'

'Perhaps more importantly you are a mother of a young child. Although, no doubt, the child would be taken care of, an immediate term of imprisonment would have a devastating effect on your child. It would be disproportionate to the sentence that needs to be imposed.'

Ah. So women can be spared the consequences of their actions (by another woman, no less!) provided they've reproduced. That's not even a unique perspective, it seems to be shared by far too many of her male colleagues. 

More Nominative Determinism In Liverpool...

Lawless appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to one count of wounding. She was sentenced to two years imprisonment suspended for 18 months.

Who's surprised? 

The mother-of-one said she had previously had trouble with Ms Hardy but could not give any specific examples of what had been said. She claimed Ms Hardy came towards her and she felt under threat, and said she had a diagnosis of PTSD.

That's called 'getting your mitigation in first'. And Reader, will you be surprised to learn this is in no way her first offence? 

Lawless, of Everton, has three previous convictions for five offences, two of which were in November and December of 2011, the first for breaching the peace and the second for assault of a designated person carrying out their public duty. In 2022, she received a suspended sentence for assault occasioning actual bodily harm, which occurred shortly after she was released under investigation for the attack on Ms Hardy.

The justice system is doing a bang-up job with this one, eh? 

But anyway, on to the professionals to flesh out the pathetic 'defence' she relayed to the no-doubt bored cops at the time: 

Martine Snowden, defending, said her client had significant mental health difficulties at the time of the offending, including a diagnosis of PTSD shortly before.

She said the victim's father died in violent circumstances and she experienced violence within her family. Ms Snowden said Lawless then became involved with men that were violent towards her - two of which have been sent to jail for assaulting her.

In other words, she's underclass scum from an underclass family.  

She said: 'She has been existing in a long-standing fear of violence. The irony in this case is that this defendant's violent outbursts relate to everything that you can see in relation to her background as it is rooted in the damage caused to her throughout her life as a consequence of violence perpetrated towards her and in her life.'

She's not the victim here, Martine.  

In sentencing, Judge Andrew Menary KC said: 'This was a pretty outrageous offence committed by you.

'She had done nothing wrong to you at all, she was a completely innocent victim.

Well, at least one person realised that... 

'For no good reason at all you began to abuse her and threaten her and then without any warning at all you repeatedly hit her to the face using a dog lead that you had wrapped around your hand as a weapon.

'In this case however, I am satisfied that there is a genuine underlying mental health issue which requires treatment, is being treated and you are responding positively to therapy. That is the only reason I am pulling back from imposing the prison sentence you otherwise deserve.'

Who wants to bet this won't be her last offence? 

There's A Word For This, Your Honour....

...but it's not 'sexist'. Try 'gullible':

A woman drug dealer caught with more than £55,000 worth of cocaine in her home has been spared prison - but a judge insisted the decision was not 'sexist'.

No, you got that right, at least... 

Aaliyah Makanda, who has changed her name from Pauline Millwod, was the 'custodian' of a huge drugs haul at her home in Kingstanding which she blamed her then boyfriend for bringing in.

There was also a 'sophisticated' cannabis factory set up in two of the bedrooms of the home in Boston Grove which was worth £4,200.

No doubt that was his fault too? 

Judge Richard Bond compared the 58-year-old to other 'greedy' dealers who he branded the 'scourge of society'.He also had no doubt her actions warranted imprisonment, but he ruled her case was 'exceptional'.

Oh, and....how, exactly? 

"If women realise they can get away with community orders if they say they are the custodians for their boyfriends of such drugs I'm afraid women are going to be used. It sounds utterly sexist I know. This has been my experience.

"People who have criminal experience - I'm talking about men - ask their partners to look after drugs, there's other items as well. People need to understand they are not going to escape an immediate custodial sentence just because they are looking after their boyfriend's drugs. But it is different in your case."

Yes, yes, we're waiting... 

Judge Bond explained he was suspending the sentence due to the fact the offences dated back to 2017, since which time she had not committed any further crime, and that prior to that she had kept a clean record since 1998.

*blinks* That's it? No dependant children, aged mother, mental health issues..? 

Judge Bond warned her he would send her to prison if she breached the sentence or committed another crime and added: "I don't give second chances. (Ed: Oh, really..?) I think I'm giving you a real chance today."

*sighs* 

Well, Of Course It Is, Anthony...

A ‘wicked’ school business manager who caused children’s education to suffer when she stole over £119,000 has...

Been given a swinging sentence, pour encourager les autres? 

Oh, wait, I'm dreaming again.

...kept her freedom.

*deep sigh* 

Mr Recorder Anthony Kelbrick told her: ‘There is no doubt that your actions, over a long, long time, putting it simply, were wicked.

‘I accept now you are genuinely remorseful but that may, of course, be because of where you now find yourself.’

Then it's not genuine, is it? 

The judge said despite the seriousness of the offence, he was persuaded that Anderson was capable of rehabilitation and sentenced her to two years imprisonment, suspended for two years, with rehabilitation requirements and a four month curfew.

What's the point of a curfew? 

H/T: David Bain via email

When 'A Night On The Town' Goes Wrong...

A woman high on cocaine escaped from a police car while half-naked - triggering a huge manhunt. Roma Lawson then sunk her teeth into an officer after running through the streets of Margate without her trousers.

All that's missing is a 'Yaketty Sax' soundtrack... 

Lawson, who has 10 previous convictions, pleaded guilty to escaping from lawful custody and assaulting an emergency worker before trial.

Is the Pussy Pass in effect here, despite the woeful record? Reader, it is, of course... 

Handing down eight months’ custody suspended for a year-and-a-half, Judge Catherine Brown told Lawson: “Biting is… something someone completely out of control does.”

The judge told Lawson she was under the influence of cocaine when she attacked the officer in May last year but has since shown a “prospect of rehabilitation”.

Can I borrow your glasses, Judge? They must be really good... 

Lawson, of Central Parade, was ordered to complete 20 probation days and pay £100 compensation.

*sighs* 

H/T: farmageddon via Twitter

A Lot More Than Gender Was Revealed...

A single-mother-of-two has been spared jail despite...

Yes. She looks exactly as you might imagine. 

...drunkenly knocking out another woman's teeth in a vicious attack after blaming her for spilling a glass of red wine down her at a gender reveal party.

Wow! Attacked two people and got away with it? Her lawyer must be a combination of Clarence Darrow and Atticus Finch... 

In mitigation, defence lawyer Chris Hunt said he did not agree that it was a 'persistent assault' claimed it could not be known if substantial force was used as it was not known if Miss Mitchell was using dentures.

Ugh! Or maybe not... 

Chairwoman Jane Davies said: 'We have listened to the facts. It must have been frightening for the people who were injured. But we have listened to what your solicitor has said and your previous good character has stood well for you.'

Yes, yes, I know 'good character' is a legal term, not a moral one...but surely the magistrate has heard the phrase 'in vino veritas'..?

What Are You Worried About...?

...you know people like you never are:

Ieuan Bennet, defending, said she was a mother of two children and was worried about them if she was imprisoned.

Thomas was sentenced to eight months imprisonment suspended for 18 months.

See...? 

I'm Finding It Difficult To Contain Myself Too...

Another day, another failure of protective options, another innocent victim:

The legal process, in the form of a legal gateway meeting, began the following day and Ms Ferguson visited the flat at around 3pm to explain options for a residential placement for the family, or for Hurrell and the baby to go in without Saint George. The court heard that Saint George swore at the social worker and refused to co-operate, having earlier blamed Lily-Mai in a text message for not letting her sleep.

'She was unable to contain herself in front of a social worker who was there to judge her competence as a mother, and you may have no doubt that she was unable to contain herself a few hours later,' said the prosecutor.

And yet clearly, our esteemed justice service has more than just doubts: 

Mr Justice Spencer found Hurrell had no case to answer for charges of murder and manslaughter and threw out a charge of causing or allowing the death of a child against both parents.

A jury at the Old Bailey deliberated for more than 11 hours to find Saint George, of Enfield in north London, not guilty of murder and manslaughter. However, she was found guilty of a charge of infanticide by a majority of 10 to one.

Ugh! It beggars belief, doesn't it? But there's worse to come... 

He told the weeping mother: 'I am ordering there to be a report from the probation service in your regard mainly for the purpose of ascertaining whether there is some assistance they can give you in rebuilding your life after this trial and after everything has happened.

'It is quite clear to me that you were depressed, still suffering from the effects of the birth of Lily-Mai at the time you committed the act which caused her death.

'The verdict of infanticide is one which traditionally has invoked sympathy rather than punishment. He told her that she has 'suffered and continued to suffer' and therefore he has decided against sending her to prison.

'The sentence will be a suspended sentence.'

It's a wonder he didn't raid the poor box to fund her a taxi home, isn't it?  

Yes, Sometimes People Do Make Mistakes...

...in our so-called 'justice system' most of all.

Victoria McInerney caused thousands of pounds of damage when she smashed into a set of traffic lights on a main road in the early hours before falsely claiming that a thief had been behind the wheel. She punched the air with delight after walking free from court over the incident today, Tuesday.

The sales director and pilates studio owner was also allowed to keep her driving licence.

Wait, what?  

Michael Scholes, defending, told the court that his client acts as a carer for several family members and has a history of physical and mental health problems. He also described her as 'hard-working, responsible and well thought of young woman'.

Past tense, presumably? 

Mr Scholes added: 'There was a significant degree of brain fog. The extremely bad decision taken is so out of character that it suggests there must have been other factors beyond simply wanting to avoid responsibility.

'She is in a position to make reparations. It's entirely reasonable to suggest she will not trouble the courts again and she has the potential for a productive future.

'She is just the last person you would expect to see before the courts for this type of offence. Sometimes people make mistakes, and some mistakes have more serious consequences than others.'

*sighs* 

Sentencing, Judge Louise Brandon said: 'You deliberately provided false information to the police, and you did so in circumstances where you must have mulled it over before you did it. You caused valuable resources to be wasted when they could have been used elsewhere.

'It's clear you are someone who is held in high regard by anyone who knows you. You are of impeccable and positive good character.

'You deeply regret what you did. In panic, you didn't think through the consequences of your actions.'

But I thought she'd 'mulled it over', Louise? 

'You have had time to reflect and taken responsibility. I accept there were other factors in play, and that it was not all about wanting to avoid responsibility.'

She has only 'taken responsibility' because they had her bang to rights on CCTV... 

'Offences of this nature undermine the very nature of the criminal justice system.'

Not as much as judges like you letting people like her off... 

'But I very much doubt that we will be seeing you in this court again. You have never been before the courts before, and you don't pose a risk to the public in my judgement.'

The next time she gets behind the wheel sozzled, is it too much to hope it's one of the judge's friends or relatives in the path of her vehicle?  

Fool Me Once, Shame On You...

...fool me many many times, and you must call me 'Your honour':

...her lawyer persuaded a judge to free her by claiming she was ''sorry'' about her behaviour and had given up drinking.

Newall was arrested in March after having a homophobic rant against a police officer, while she was being taken to a police station. The mum then verbally abused every other officer when she was about to be placed in cells. During her rampage, Newall head butted the clear plastic Perspex of a police van and spat on the floor telling one PC: ''I am going to smash your head off, you f***ing grass, you f***ing grassing bastard. You are f***ing dead."

Lovely! 

Inquiries revealed she had a string of previous convictions and had previously been to jail for assaulting a police officer.

At Sefton Magistrates Court, Newall faced up to six months in jail after she pleaded guilty to two charges of using threatening, abusive, insulting words or behaviour to cause harassment alarm, or distress.

Yeah, right... 

But she was given a 18-month community order including a six-month alcohol rehabilitation programme after saying she had a "multiplicity of problems” and was getting treatment for her heavy drinking.

District Judge James Clarke said: 'This is an opportunity. If you throw this away you only have yourself to blame.”

And you, James, for giving her the opportunity... 

I Have Questions...

Lots of them!

"Then somethin' changed her mind, her kisses told me..."

Alisha Oakley, 23, walked free from court after a judge ruled that she was suffering from a psychotic episode when she knifed Reece Tyler in the back of the head.

The blade missed his brain by two centimetres, moments after he refused to kiss her at a party at a flat in Dover, Kent.

Yikes! How the hell do you get to walk away free from this? 

At Canterbury Crown Court on Wednesday, Oakley was given a two-year jail sentence but suspended for 18 months after pleading guilty to wounding with intent. She must also do six months of drug rehabilitation.

There was no compensation for the victim as she has no way to pay - although she does have a £140 surcharge bill.

It's beyond belief... 

Her barrister, Anna Chestnut, said Oakley has not reoffended since the night of the party, when she was only 19, and is now being treated with antipsychotic medicine. She also said that probation reports deemed her to be at low risk of reoffending but at a medium risk to future partners.

Form an orderly line, gents! 

I Always Wondered What A Greased Pig Looked Like...

And now I know...

Magen Hendry, 28, was drunk when she left her front door ajar and her children asleep at 3am on October 25, 2019. One child was of pre-school age and the other at primary school.

Teesside Crown Court has heard how police spotted Hendry's black Audi A9 driving dangerously, on Nelson Terrace in Stockton. Prosecutor Uzma Khan said that the car had no lights on and was seen going through red lights at the junction with Wellington Street; before driving through a second set of red lights at the junction with Victoria Street.

Ms Khan said that police following Hendry lost sight of her Audi, before it was picked up by CCTV abandoned in a car park on Durham Road. Hendry was seen crouching behind a wall. She had covered herself in some sort of grease - thought to be vandal grease - in a bid to hide from police; and her bare feet were bleeding.

/facepalm 

Tabitha Buck, defending, said that social services had been involved since the incident and that a probation report found that Hendry had resorted to alcohol to cope with a crisis in her life.

How's that working out for her? 

Judge Howard Crowson told Hendry that she had been "careless about the welfare of your children and of other drivers on the road." He handed her a two- year supervision order and an 18-month driving ban.

What?! What do you have to do these days? Still, no doubt she kept her head down and thanked her lucky stars for the leni...

Oh... 

Hendry told the judge that there is no school bus and that a taxi to get her children to school was £7 each way. But the judge warned her that if she drove whilst banned, she could end up with a prison sentence.

He should have added on a few months for arguing! 

Well Said, Judge Carroll ...

The usual words from the hired mouthpiece, but he's not swayed:

"I read with interest your army reference, which describes you as a man of integrity - that could not be further from the case. This was a long, persistent case of very bad driving that culminated in a man’s death."

But once again, the Pussy Pass comes into effect: 

Robinson collapsed in tears as she was jailed for seven-years-and-nine-months. Ferry was handed an eight-year sentence.

She hit the cyclist, so why should he get a greater sentence..? Is it, as Clarissa thinks, because he left the scene and she stayed?

Fight Of The Century, Ladies And Gentlemen!

In the red corner, the Race Card:

Tyran Forrest, a builder and driver from Stockwood, south Bristol, claimed some of the children – but not Antwon – were throwing mudballs at passing boats including one being paddled by the woman, who works for a car dealership.

What followed allegedly involved some pushing and shouting and ended up with Antwon being struck by the woman with a paddle, and, as Tyran Forrest said: “My son was standing there, blood pouring down his face.”

Asked why he thought Antwon rather than his white friends had been hit, Tyran Forrest said: “It seems a bit suspicious that she went for him. People can look at it how they want.”

In the blue corner, the Pussy Pass:

On 14 April a letter arrived telling the family: “The case has been reviewed and unfortunately the decision has been made to take no further action.”

It continued: “The main reason is that during interview the suspect raised a possibility for self-defence. By this we mean that the suspect admitted pushing Antwon and when pushing him she had the paddle in her hand and this contacted with his head. The suspect claimed she pushed Antwon away because he challenged her and she felt threatened by him and the surrounding group.”

Well, this is going to be interesting! We want a fair fight, no hitting below the be...

Oh, too late! 

Patricia Daley, of Black Protest Legal Support, had called for the police to look again at the case.

The ex-boxer Ashley Theophane wrote that he was not surprised by the police response.

In a statement, Avon and Somerset police said the incident was taken seriously and a woman was arrested and interviewed. It added: “A realistic prospect of a conviction was not made out from the available evidence following the investigation. Since becoming aware of the injured boy’s family’s concerns through social media, officers have been in touch with them and initiated a review.

“This review will be carried out by an experienced detective sergeant, with oversight from a senior officer. It is being monitored by the office of the police and crime commissioner and the intention is to identify appropriate independent scrutiny so that our communities can have confidence in the outcome.”

The Guardian attempted to contact the woman through her workplace but received no reply.

One to watch... 

Update: And as if by magic:

On Tuesday the force said it was treating the incident as racially motivated and appealed for more witnesses.

Looks like the Race Card has scored a knockout. Can the Pussy Pass get up off the canvas? Place your bets!

'Mother Of The Year' Award Is Going To Be A Tough One This Year...

'They support each other. They are still together. Their plan is they will get their children back and put this matter behind them,' Mr Moss said.

'It's something that he will never forgive himself for.'

It's something any normal mother deserving of the name would never forgive him for, wouldn't you think? 

Elon's mother Abigail Ellis, 28, was initially charged with the same offence, but prosecutors asked for a not guilty verdict to be entered in her case.

Wait, what? Why? She's every bit as culpable... 

Mr Thyne said that in April 2020, five months before the fatal incident, Ms Ellis went to a GP with her son, who had a bite wound on his right thigh. The doctor was told that the boy had been bitten by a stray dog, but he revealed in a police interview after Elon's death that in fact it had been Teddy that bit him, the court heard.

Our justice system isn't fit for purpose. And since neither is our child protection service, I expect this wretched couple will get the children back too... 

"Too many lovers in one lifetime ain't good for you..."

Her lawyer Peter Casson said in mitigation: “Prior to this incident, there was nothing this defendant had against the complainant. In fact they were friends or associates. But she has been in a number of domestic and abusive relationships over the last couple of years and this incident was orchestrated by her partner as he told her the complainant had been flirting with him.

"They had been out and she has approached her and words were exchanged. Prior to this incident there was nothing. The partner was with the defendant at the time and he said she had been flirting with him.

Mr Casson added: “She has had a very difficult childhood. She found herself meeting boyfriend after boyfriend and she always ends up the victim as a result of controlling and coercive behaviour.”

It's funny how something like this repeatedly happens to certain people over and over again, isn't it? 

Gregory admitted assault, was given eight weeks imprisonment suspended for 18 months and ordered to pay the mum-of-two £250 compensation.

I guess Peter could have saved his breath - wasn't this always likely? 

JP Walter Barrett told her: “We have seen the picture of the injuries as a result of this assault. It is a really serious assault and it warrants a prison sentence but we feel this can be suspended today.”

Why? Does she have a squeaky clean record apart from this incident? 

Gregory had previous convictions for malicious communications, breach of restraining order and harassment of another person.

Guess not. She simply doesn't learn. And she's not the only one...  

Maybe You Should Stop Showing Her There Are No Serious Consequences, Dominic?

JP Dominic Stone said: 'You are going to have to learn to respect people in authority.

'A police officer is there to serve and protect the whole community, including you. They show you courtesy, the least you can show to them is courtesy in return.

'This is going to land you in serious consequences. You were given the opportunity as a youth, and here you are again abusing a police officer; this has to stop.'

Bring on those serious consequences, then!

As well as the 12 month community order, McNally has also been sentenced to 15 days of rehabilitation activity requirements and 60 hours unpaid work.

Not really what I had in mind... 

'Helping'. Yr Doin' It Wrong...

The father of a teaching assistant who had sex with a 14-year-old schoolboy in a Wilko car park has said...

How ashamed he is? 

...'she just wanted help' as the family plot to appeal her conviction.

Oh... 

He told The Sun: 'I don’t believe what came out in court. She shouldn’t have been doing that job. She was too young.

'She was in that job because she wanted to help people, that’s what she does, she helps people.

'She’s very very good natured. Anyone she’s ever worked for before and still working for now speak very highly of her. And she is still working now.'

Strange then that she went to such lengths to deceive those around her targeted prey: 

Harris told the boy's parents she lived in Baldock, Hertfordshire, with her fictional daughter Kayla, whom she claimed was their son's girlfriend. In one text to the boy's parents, she wrote: 'Seems Kayla and (the boy) are getting on well, so I am happy to ferry them around.' Their relationship was uncovered in January 2020 by the boy's older brother after the 14-year-old admitted to his sibling that both 'Olivia' and 'Kayla' were fictional.

Those are the actions of a predator.  

Following the verdict, defence barrister Julia Flanagan said Harris was now in a stable relationship. She said there had been concerns for her mental health, but she had returned to working in IT.

Judge Caroline Wigin bailed Harris, who cried in the dock, for sentencing on March 9. She must abide by a curfew between 7pm and 7am. The judge said she will also have to register as a sex offender and told her: 'The sentence is inevitably going to be custody.'

We'll see....