But magistrates jailed Charlene Taylor, 27, for punching a security guard outside Cardiff’s Huggard Centre after shoplifting from John Lewis
A MOTHER of two begged for “one final chance” after lashing out at a security guard and a police officer while hurling expletives, a court head.
Charlene Taylor, 27, is a recovering addict and promised to “cooperate with everything” after pleading guilty to assaulting an emergency worker, a security guard and stealing from multiple shops, including high-end retailers John Lewis and Urban Outfitters, said Jacqui Seal, defending.
Taylor, who has been staying at the Huggard Centre in Cardiff, appeared before Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday for sentencing, after “causing a nuisance” and getting “rowdy” outside the hostel, said Katie Baldwin, prosecuting.
When asked to calm down by the security guard, Taylor punched him just under the eye and allegedly threatened, “I will get my family to **** you up,” Miss Baldwin said.
Miss Baldwin added that when police arrived, Taylor spat towards one officer and kicked another, shouting words to the effect of “I ain’t scared of you, you little ****.”
Mrs Seal argued that Taylor has been struggling with her drug addiction, alcohol misuse and homelessness which have worsened her behaviour. She has attended her probation appointments in an effort to turn her life around, she added, as she is not proud of her actions.
“She assures me that she is moving forward, determined to get her life back on track,” Mrs Seal said.
But the court heard that she had already breached a community order, missing 17 scheduled unpaid work sessions without an acceptable excuse.
“Taylor is seen to have a wilful disregard for her current order,” said the probation officer, Myfanwy Sephton.
Chair of the bench, Caroline Green, said: “We find that the offences are so serious that only a custodial sentence can be justified.”
Taylor was sentenced to a total of 22 weeks in prison, including 12 weeks for assaulting an emergency worker. The charges of assault by beating and using threatening, abusive, or insulting words or behaviour will run concurrently. Additional time was imposed for theft, burglary alongside breaching her community order.
As she was led away from the courtroom, Taylor was visibly distressed, shouting: “I can’t see my children now, it is disgusting.”
Taylor will serve half of her sentence before being released under supervision.
