MUM’S £437 COURT BILL AFTER ‘GLOATING’ TEXT TO NEIGHBOUR
Woman was in breach of restraining order
A MUM at the centre of a bitter neighbour dispute breached a restraining order – within hours of it being made at court.
Tricia Badger was found not guilty of threatening behaviour following a trial on July 22.
Despite the acquittal, the 29-yearold was banned from contacting the woman who lives a few doors down. But later that night Badger sent the woman a text in which she gloated about the verdict.
And six days later she breached the order for a second time by making a reference to the woman’s sister as she went to fetch milk. Now Badger has been hit with a £437 court bill at North Staffordshire Justice Centre.
Prosecutor Emma Thompson said Badger was made the subject of a restraining order after appearing at the court on July 22. She was acquitted of a section 4 threatening behaviour charge which related to a dispute with a neighbour.
But later that day, the woman received a message on her phone from Badger. The message contained abuse and included: “I am not guilty so grow up. Better luck next time.” Miss Thompson said: “She was clearly gloating.”
Six days later, on July 28, police went to arrest Badger for the breach but she had childcare issues so they agreed to return at 6pm so she could make arrangements for the children.
But at 12.30pm Badger approached the woman and made a reference to her sister. Miss Thompson said: “Badger walked towards the house and said, ‘Where is your b **** at now’. The woman recorded Badger on her phone.”
In her police interview Badger said she messaged the injured party telling her she was not guilty. At the time she did not think it was a breach of the order but she now knows otherwise. She added that on July 28 she said she went to get milk and saw the woman holding a phone and filming her and she asked her why she was filming her.
Badger, of Cornhill Road, Chell Heath, pleaded guilty to two charges of breaching a restraining order.
Paige Morgan, mitigating, said there was an ongoing feud between Badger and the woman.
Miss Morgan said: “Because of the issues she has been forced to spend her time in her bedroom. She does not leave the house.”
She said the other woman has accepted filming Badger on July 28. Miss Morgan added: “The text was a deliberate breach but not on July 28, that was simply a response to issues that were going on.”
Magistrates fined Badger £180 and ordered her to pay £185 costs and a £72 surcharge.