A YOUNG woman who has breached her suspended sentence three times is behind bars today – after telling a judge jail might teach her a lesson.

Laura Jackson, of Barnfields, Felixstowe, must serve 12 weeks of a 38-week suspended sentence as a result of punching a man after drunkenly abusing his girlfriend in an early morning spat.

When asked by Judge Rupert Overbury at Ipswich Crown Court if she had anything to say about breaching her suspended sentence yet again, Jackson replied: “I don’t think anybody wants to go to prison, but I think it will teach me a lesson.”

Imprisoning the 21-year-old, Judge Overbury told her: “It will, I hope, teach you a valuable lesson that if you are given help by the courts you take it. You don’t abuse it.

“Now has come the time when my patience, and the Probation Service’s patience, has finally run out.”

After giving Jackson 12 weeks in jail for the breach of her suspended sentence and a further two weeks to run concurrently for a common assault on March 11, Judge Overbury added: “I hope that will teach you the lesson that you will behave yourself in the future. If you don’t, the sentences will get longer and longer.”

Earlier in the hearing Jackson chose to remain unrepresented by a solicitor, even though Judge Overbury offered to put the case back until she could get representation.

Prosecutor Robert Sadd told the court the assault – which Jackson admitted and apologised for – occurred at around 3am in Felixstowe.

The male victim and his girlfriend had left a nightclub near the centre of the town when a drunken Jackson started to abuse the girl, calling her unpleasant names.

Jackson then lashed out at the boyfriend, hitting him on the left side of the face, but not injuring him.

Police were called and Jackson was arrested following the incident in Bent Hill.

Jackson has been in court on six occasions previously for 17 offences, mainly for dishonesty.

On February 16, 2011 Judge Overbury gave her a 38-week sentence suspended for 12 months for fraud and handling stolen property.

A further three months’ supervision was added to the order on August 8 for Jackson’s first breach. On December 20, another six-month extension was put on the order. On both occasions she had failed to comply with the orders’ conditions.

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