Judge says 'no more weed' to woman who threatened to kill ambulance worker

Ann Bennett, pictured outside Hull Crown Court
Ann Bennett, pictured outside Hull Crown Court -Credit:Hull Live


A pregnant cannabis-taking mother who threatened to kill an ambulance crew member with a kitchen knife has been warned by a judge: "No more weed."

Ann Bennett already had a bad record of complying with court orders but, after her latest Houdini-like escape act in avoiding prison, she has been warned at Hull Crown Court that she could be jailed next time if she is not very careful.

Bennett, 32, of Trinity Road, Bridlington, admitted making threats to kill on March 23 and using threatening words or behaviour on March 20.

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Oliver Shipley, prosecuting, said that an ambulance crew was called out to an incident in Bridlington in the early hours. They found Bennett inside a house. She became angry and started making threats.

She showed the paramedics a drawer containing kitchen knives and the crew believed that she was going to move towards them and that she might grab one of the knives. She was detained but she started screaming, shouting and making threats. Police back-up was requested.

Bennett later told police during interview that, on that day, she had drunk three glasses of whisky and had smoked one joint of cannabis. She admitted saying "I'll cut off your fingers" but she denied reaching for a large knife. "She apologised to those she had upset," said Mr Shipley.

During an incident on March 20, Bennett was on the scene of a disturbance in Bridlington involving a man and others and, during it, she shouted: "Watch me get you stabbed. Watch me get someone to go through your house. Watch me get someone to bomb your house."

Bennett had convictions for 10 previous offences between December 2016 and June last year, including threatening behaviour and making malicious communications.

Cathy Kioko-Gilligan, mitigating, said that Bennett "did not have a glowing report" from her previous community orders but she now realised what would happen if she were given the chance of a suspended prison sentence "hanging over her" and she then breached it.

Judge Mark Bury told Bennett: "You haven't really been complying with previous court orders. The threats to kill offence is quite serious. There will come a time when, if you are not careful, you won't have a choice.

"You have got to start complying with court orders. If you don't comply, sooner or later, I will have no option but to send you to prison – pregnant or not.

"You can't be taking cannabis. You might think it helps but it doesn't sound you have got to stop it. Once again, you are not going to prison today but you have really got to get a grip because there will come a time when you will do.

"The first thing you have got to do is tell yourself: 'No more weed'. I want to know that you have actually given up cannabis. I am going to ask for reviews on your progress. No cannabis. No drinking."

Bennett replied: "I don't go out drinking anyway." She said that she had worked out that her baby was probably due to be born on Christmas Day. She has other children.

Judge Bury said: "I take the view at the minute that it would be in nobody's interests to send you to prison but there will come a time that, if you keep pushing the boundaries, you will be sent to prison.

"Most importantly, stay off cannabis. It isn't good for you and it certainly isn't good for your new baby. Just because you have, in the past, been given chances on orders, don't think you will be given any further latitude."

Bennett was given a one-year suspended prison sentence and 30 days' rehabilitation.