A Belchalwell juvenile who cannot be named for legal reasons was jailed for 10 years by Mr Justice Birch-Hard at Christchurch Crown Court for allowing his dog to foul the driveway leading to the home of Dorset businesswoman and local celebrity Mrs Amanda J Threadbone.
Justifying the unprecedented sentence, Mr Birch-Hard told the Court that "Whilst this might seem a minor offence, Mr X's actions brought unimaginable distress to a vulnerable woman and was motivated either by spite or jealousy. In any event heinous behaviour of this vile character must be stamped out and if that means making an example of a young man barely out of childhood then so be it". Justice Birch-Hard had earlier stressed to the jury that whilst, as judge he must be careful in directing them and remain absolutely impartial, he would be "absolutely astonished if you found this dangerous threat to the community at large anything other than self-evidently guilty".
Giving her evidence from behind a screen an obviously distressed Mrs Threadbone told the Court that whilst walking in the grounds of her substantial home in order to allow her dogs to "do their business", she had witnessed Mr X allowing his dog to "part company with a digestive artifact of considerable girth" ". Too distressed to continue, Mrs Threadbone was excused by Mr Justice Birch-Hard who described her as a witness of the utmost probity and a woman deserving of the highest respect who left the Court without a stain on her considerable reputation.
A spokesperson for Mrs Threadbone told reporters assembled outside the Court that "whilst Mrs Threadbone is a strong and independent woman, incidents of this sort can have a deep and traumatic effect lasting a lifetime". He declined to say whether Mrs Threadbone would be seeking financial compensation through the Civil Court, saying only that the Court's award of £35,000 would "do for the time being, whilst the whole situation is properly assessed."
CLOCKWISE: Mr X and friends arrive at Christchurch Crown Court; Court artist's impression of the "vile act" shown to the jury; photograph of the evacuant.
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