Court / Woman who offended 11 days after prison release is ordered back to jail
A WOMAN who broke into homes and “terrified” Lerwick residents – just 11 days after being released from prison – has been ordered back to jail.
Sarah Irvine, also known as Patterson, assaulted police officers, failed to disclose she was carrying a knife and demanded homeowners give her “dope” during a prolonged incident on 7 July this year.
She had only been released from prison on 26 June, Lerwick Sheriff Court heard.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie told the court last month that the 38-year-old, whose address was given as Grampian prison, had been behaving “extremely erratically” on Lerwick’s Union Street and Burgh Road on the day in question.
She threatened a man in a wheelchair, hit parked cars and people’s windows after consuming alcohol and taking so-called “legal highs”.
When police arrived at the scene she was searched and failed to disclose that she was carrying a knife.
While on the way to Lerwick police station, she continued to behave in a threatening manner.
Three police officers were required to remove her from the police van as she continued kicking, shouting and spitting, with spit landing on two of the three officers.
The court heard she had to be fully restrained but still managed to kick one officer in the face.
Sentence had been deferred for the preparation of background reports.
Defence agent Tommy Allan said his client had been back in custody since the day after the incident, 8 July.
He said she had a particular problem with alcohol, adding if she had not been drinking “she wouldn’t have got herself into this situation”.
Allan admitted: “Her behaviour is atrocious when she’s intoxicated.”
Irvine had “unwisely kept company” with a friend with substance issues after leaving jail, Allan said, which had led to the incident.
She had taken “legal highs”, and “didn’t fully appreciate the effect that would have” on her.
Allan said his client had moved to a new two-bedroom home before the incident, and was eager to have her two children come to stay with her.
He said that was now a “realistic possibility”, judging from the reports before the court.
Allan urged the court to impose a community payback order on her to allow her to see her children, and said it would leave “a fairly hefty sword of Damocles” hanging over her to encourage good behaviour.
But Sheriff Ian Cruickshank was not persuaded, pointing out these offences had been carried out just 11 days after a previous stint in prison.
He told Irvine the incident was “regrettable”, and “just another example of what happens when you’re intoxicated”.
“It’s quite clear that various routes have been attempted in the past to try and break the spiral of offending,” he said.
“None of those have really worked to any extent.
“Ultimately, the only person who can change this revolving door being in and out of custody is you.”
Sheriff Cruickshank jailed Irvine for 22 months, backdated to 1 October.
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