Prison threat to beggar
A notorious beggar faces a new jail sentence after begging on the streets on Bath. Jenny Dinmore, 43, was given three prison terms within seven months between July 2016 and February 2017 due to her repeated reoffending. She admitted two counts of breaching a criminal behaviour order by begging when she appeared at Bath Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, January 2. Dinmore asked members of the public for money on November 25 on Green Street and on November 28 on New Bond Street. The court heard she has a history of mental health problems and drug abuse and is showing “enormously encouraging” signs of improvement thanks to rehabilitation sessions she’s having with a Bath charity. However, she still could be sent to prison and her solicitor expressed concerns the criminal justice system was “on a track which is never ending” regarding her punishment and rehabilitation. She was given the criminal behaviour order, which lasts for five years, on August 23. It only contains one condition, that Dinmore does not beg or ask for money within an exclusion zone that includes Bath city centre. Prosecuting, Jessica Dobson told the court that in the first incident, Dinmore had asked members of the public “’Excuse me, spare some change?’”. “This was reported to the police,” she said. On November 28, police officers noticed her begging. She initially told officers in an interview that she was asking for change for a £5 note. Dinmore has a lengthy history of appearing before magistrates’ courts in Bath and Bristol for begging. She broke her current behaviour order less than a month after it was made and was sentenced to a community order, including a 12-week curfew on October 31. Before that Dinmore had been sentenced to three separate jail terms within a seven-month period. Each instance was for a breach of a previous criminal behaviour order - which she was one of the first people to receive - made on June 1 2015. Ms Dobson told the court she broke her previous order a total of seven times. This included a breach for which she was given a suspended prison sentence on June 27 2018. When she was given the community order in October, magistrates decided not to activate the suspended sentence but it remains a possibility, meaning Dinmore could be sent to prison for a further time. Ms Dobson said: “This is aggravated by the fact this is a further breach of the criminal behaviour order. “The Crown would contend that there’s a history of disobedience of court orders.” Defending, Sheila Carrick said: “I have known Miss Dinmore for over 20 years. “And I’ve dealt with her as a mental health client in the past. “The mental health aspects have not been addressed especially [well] over the years.” Sentencing, lead magistrate Angela Graham-lee said: “We’re very concerned about these breaches of the criminal behaviour order, particularly when you have a suspended sentence hanging over you.” Her hearing was adjourned and Dinmore will return to Bath Magistrates’ Court on January 30.