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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Woman hit boy with church papers | Woman hit boy with church papers |
| (about 18 hours later) | |
| A 63-year-old woman has been convicted of assault after using rolled up church papers to hit a teenager she suspected of damaging a village sign. | A 63-year-old woman has been convicted of assault after using rolled up church papers to hit a teenager she suspected of damaging a village sign. |
| Alma Harding, a member of the church choir and Women's Institute at Kenton in Devon, was found guilty and given an absolute discharge. | Alma Harding, a member of the church choir and Women's Institute at Kenton in Devon, was found guilty and given an absolute discharge. |
| Newton Abbot magistrates in Devon heard she had looked after the local area and was upset by the boy's alleged actions. | Newton Abbot magistrates in Devon heard she had looked after the local area and was upset by the boy's alleged actions. |
| Her barrister condemned the charge as giving troublemakers a free hand. | Her barrister condemned the charge as giving troublemakers a free hand. |
| Harding said: "It is a black day in the community when the police find it fit to persecute a little old lady for defending herself and her property as well as public and church property from the vandalism of youths in the village, by hitting one with a few pieces of rolled up paper." | Harding said: "It is a black day in the community when the police find it fit to persecute a little old lady for defending herself and her property as well as public and church property from the vandalism of youths in the village, by hitting one with a few pieces of rolled up paper." |
| Plants strewn | Plants strewn |
| The court heard that Harding had spent many hours of her time and her own money sprucing up her village with flowers and hanging baskets. | The court heard that Harding had spent many hours of her time and her own money sprucing up her village with flowers and hanging baskets. |
| But the village church and centre, called The Triangle, which houses the war memorial and Saxon Cross, had been vandalised by youngsters. | But the village church and centre, called The Triangle, which houses the war memorial and Saxon Cross, had been vandalised by youngsters. |
| In April 2008, Harding was returning from a parochial church council meeting when she said she saw three teenage boys using a parish notice board for target practice with a football. | In April 2008, Harding was returning from a parochial church council meeting when she said she saw three teenage boys using a parish notice board for target practice with a football. |
| The message sent out to young people in our society is that you are able to commit such actions freely Barrister James Taghdissian Just four days earlier the hanging baskets and bulbs she had planted in a trough had been strewn over a path. | The message sent out to young people in our society is that you are able to commit such actions freely Barrister James Taghdissian Just four days earlier the hanging baskets and bulbs she had planted in a trough had been strewn over a path. |
| She told the court she remonstrated with the boys and after being sworn at she lashed out with the papers, catching one of the boys on his right cheek. | She told the court she remonstrated with the boys and after being sworn at she lashed out with the papers, catching one of the boys on his right cheek. |
| The boy, now 14, agreed they had laughed at her and she may have been intimidated by them, but denied calling her a name. | The boy, now 14, agreed they had laughed at her and she may have been intimidated by them, but denied calling her a name. |
| Harding told the court the boys came towards her and she was concerned and upset and had lashed out to get away and as a warning. | Harding told the court the boys came towards her and she was concerned and upset and had lashed out to get away and as a warning. |
| 'Public duty' | 'Public duty' |
| Her barrister James Taghdissian told the court: "The message sent out to young people in our society is that you are able to commit such actions freely knowing that the moment they complain to the police it will be taken seriously and anyone trying to do anything about it will end up in the dock. | Her barrister James Taghdissian told the court: "The message sent out to young people in our society is that you are able to commit such actions freely knowing that the moment they complain to the police it will be taken seriously and anyone trying to do anything about it will end up in the dock. |
| "What on earth is going on, why are the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) wasting public time and money proceeding in this case?" | "What on earth is going on, why are the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) wasting public time and money proceeding in this case?" |
| The CPS said after the case that it was "unfortunate" that the case went to court. | The CPS said after the case that it was "unfortunate" that the case went to court. |
| But Harding, who had admitted the assault to police, had chosen not to accept a caution which would have kept the case out of court. | But Harding, who had admitted the assault to police, had chosen not to accept a caution which would have kept the case out of court. |
| That meant she was summonsed for the assault and she later entered a not guilty plea. | That meant she was summonsed for the assault and she later entered a not guilty plea. |
| Tony Muir, area communications manager, said: "We had a public duty to prosecute. | Tony Muir, area communications manager, said: "We had a public duty to prosecute. |
| "We have to be seen to be prosecuting people that assault 13 year olds because other cases might be more serious." | "We have to be seen to be prosecuting people that assault 13 year olds because other cases might be more serious." |
| The magistrates ruled that Harding was "angry and frustrated" when she struck out and ruled she did not have to pay the youth any compensation or court prosecution costs. | The magistrates ruled that Harding was "angry and frustrated" when she struck out and ruled she did not have to pay the youth any compensation or court prosecution costs. |
| However, her own legal bill has exceeded £2,000. | However, her own legal bill has exceeded £2,000. |