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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 'Bigamous' lesbian is sentenced | 'Bigamous' lesbian is sentenced |
| (about 19 hours later) | |
| A woman who entered into a civil partnership with her lesbian partner while she was still married has been ordered to carry out community service. | A woman who entered into a civil partnership with her lesbian partner while she was still married has been ordered to carry out community service. |
| Suzanne Mitchell, of Wingfield Gardens, Shrewsbury, pleaded guilty to breaching the 2004 Civil Partnerships Act. | Suzanne Mitchell, of Wingfield Gardens, Shrewsbury, pleaded guilty to breaching the 2004 Civil Partnerships Act. |
| The 30-year-old admitted making a false statement at her union with Caroline Beddows before her marriage to Charles Mitchell had been annulled. | The 30-year-old admitted making a false statement at her union with Caroline Beddows before her marriage to Charles Mitchell had been annulled. |
| Suzanne Mitchell was also given a suspended prison sentence on Monday. | Suzanne Mitchell was also given a suspended prison sentence on Monday. |
| Mitchell has since split with her female partner and has been reunited with her husband. | Mitchell has since split with her female partner and has been reunited with her husband. |
| Judge Robin Onions said jailing the mother-of-five, who is pregnant, would have had a damaging effect on her children, who he described as the "only injured parties" in the case. | Judge Robin Onions said jailing the mother-of-five, who is pregnant, would have had a damaging effect on her children, who he described as the "only injured parties" in the case. |
| 'Cruelty and deception' | 'Cruelty and deception' |
| Judge Onions said Mitchell had repeatedly lied in pursuit of the civil partnership and added her offence was one of "cruelty and deception". | Judge Onions said Mitchell had repeatedly lied in pursuit of the civil partnership and added her offence was one of "cruelty and deception". |
| Mitchell was given an eight-month prison sentence suspended for two years. | Mitchell was given an eight-month prison sentence suspended for two years. |
| She was also ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid community service and was made the subject of a two-year supervision order. | She was also ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid community service and was made the subject of a two-year supervision order. |
| The case is believed to be the first of its kind since the new law on civil partnerships was introduced. | The case is believed to be the first of its kind since the new law on civil partnerships was introduced. |
| Judge Onions said he had used past bigamy cases as a guide when considering Mitchell's sentence. | Judge Onions said he had used past bigamy cases as a guide when considering Mitchell's sentence. |
| Bus stop meeting | Bus stop meeting |
| The court heard that Mitchell initially claimed she did not understand the seriousness of the civil partnership ceremony and claimed to have thought it was a type of "blessing" for her friendship. | The court heard that Mitchell initially claimed she did not understand the seriousness of the civil partnership ceremony and claimed to have thought it was a type of "blessing" for her friendship. |
| Mark Linkins, for the prosecution, told the court that Mitchell and Miss Beddows became friends after meeting at a bus stop when they were both pregnant. | Mark Linkins, for the prosecution, told the court that Mitchell and Miss Beddows became friends after meeting at a bus stop when they were both pregnant. |
| In September 2005 Miss Beddows and her baby moved into the Mitchells' family home. | In September 2005 Miss Beddows and her baby moved into the Mitchells' family home. |
| Mr Linkins said that in February 2006 Mitchell and Miss Beddows went through with the civil partnership ceremony at Shrewsbury register office, where Mitchell falsely declared she was single. | Mr Linkins said that in February 2006 Mitchell and Miss Beddows went through with the civil partnership ceremony at Shrewsbury register office, where Mitchell falsely declared she was single. |
| After the hearing, Mitchell, two of whose children live with different fathers, said: "I just want to go home and see my kids." |