Woman jailed for ignoring court

AN Ipswich woman who was involved in an incident in which a teenager died has today been jailed for failing to comply with court orders.

Gillian Smith was sent to prison for six weeks because she did not keep appointments with the probation service, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Neil Macaulay prosecuting said the 40-year-old Shenstone Drive in Ipswich was originally sentenced to three months in prison suspended for 12 months in 2006 after pleading to using threatening behaviour during an incident in Chafford Hundred, Essex in which a man died.

Mr Macaulay said Smith and her male co-defendant were approached by a group of drunken men in April 2005 and Smith shouted abuse at them.

He said: “The defendant said she was pushed in the back with a piece of wood so she pushed him and the co-defendant and the man began to fight.

“The co-defendant hit him with apiece of wood and he fell to the ground.”

The court heard that the man was 19-year-old Ryan Daly and he died as a result of his injuries.

Mr Macaulay said Smith's co-defendant, who was not named in court, pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

The court heard that Smith re-offended while she was on probation supervision but the suspended sentence was not activated because it was an entirely different offence.

Mr Macaulay said Smith was sentenced for that offence last July but then breached the suspended sentence order by failing to attend two probation appointments on October 11 and 18 last year.

Michael Stephenson mitigating said his client had admitted the breaches but had been living a life plagued with “a multiplicity of problems” including a “violent” 20-year marriage.

He said: “This is not a lady who needs to be sent to prison and she should get a second chance.”

Judge John Devaux said: “The probation service sadly sees no future in the supervision requirement. Probation has no faith in this order and nor does the court.”

He revoked the original order and sent Smith immediately into custody for six weeks.