A woman who has waged a harassment campaign against her ex and new partner has been told she “has to stop” her behaviour or risk jail time.
Yvonne Darby received a 120-hour community service order with a four-month suspended prison sentence.
The 40-year-old was bluntly told ““this has to stop, today, or you will be in custody for a significant period of time,” reports Independent.
Derby pleaded guilty to 12 offenses committed last summer, including two to harassment and dangerous driving. It was a series of accusations.
Derby is also charged with violating a restraining order, tampering with and damaging a car, and disorderly conduct.
The court heard those offenses had been committed just a week earlier. Just weeks after Derby pleaded guilty to the first set of charges and was placed under a restraining order pending sentencing.
At Armagh Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, where Derby appeared via video link, District Judge Anne Marshall did not back down from what she thought about her behaviour.
“This was a sustained campaign against the two injured parties over a period of time and you have absolutely no regard for court orders,’’ said the judge, reports Independent.
In relation to the allegations she admitted, the court was told her former partner was out walking her dog when Derby grabbed her and dragged the victim to the ground, shouting that “it was because she stole her man”, reports Independent.
The lawyer said Derby had been warned that any further contact would be harassment.
Despite this, on the same day, she messaged the victim on social media, then she approached the couple in her car at Silverbridge.
“They told her to leave them alone but she began to shout abuse at them,” a lawyer told the court, reports Independent.
After reporting the matter to the police, it was revealed that Derby had not been allowed to drive after failing to re-apply for her license from a previous ban.
The following day, Derby bombarded her ex-partner with phone calls, 24 in all, and “screaming abuse at her”, reports Independent.
The judge noted how much damage it caused to Derby’s victims.
“I have read the victim impact statements about the serious and significant impact that you have had on their lives and the lives of their children and families,” said the judge, reports Independent.
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