Gran hauled to court after she broke eggs in row with mum
A GRANDMOTHER was hauled before a court for breaking a box of eggs during a row with her mother.
Alissa Ash, 59, was charged with damaging the £3 eggs ‘with intent’ after throwing them on the floor.
The case is thought to have cost taxpayers as much as £1,000 in legal and court costs.
The magistrate who sentenced her appeared baffled the case had come to court, saying he was ‘struggling to find any criminality’ before handing down an absolute discharge.
A spat broke out between Ms Ash and her mother, Ann-Marie Ash, 89, in June and police were called to calm the situation.
At a hearing on Thursday, Guildford Magistrates’ Court was told police wanted to give Ash a caution but she refused to accept it.
As a result, she was charged with criminal damage for ‘damaging a box of eggs at the cost of £3 with intent’. The charge added her actions were intended ‘to destroy or damage such property’ or were ‘reckless as to whether such property would be destroyed or damaged’.
In court, Ash spoke only to confirm her name and address and to plead guilty.
Manni Gosal, defending, told the court: ‘She has expressed remorse for her actions.’
Mr Gosal added that Ash, who was living in Molesey in Surrey, but is currently in a in Thornton Heath, south London, was ‘of good character and has never been in trouble before’.
Sentencing her to an absolute discharge, magistrate James Barber said: ‘I’m struggling to find any criminality other than breaking a few eggs. I do that every time I make breakfast.’
The case was heard despite reservations even from Mrs Ash, the supposed ‘victim’. Outside court, she told The Sun her daughter’s prosecuhotel tion was ‘ a waste of time’. A Surrey Police spokesman last night said the force acted out of a ‘ duty of care’ but would ‘ fully review’ the circumstances of the case.
She said: ‘Surrey Police has a duty of care to ensure that victims of crime are carefully safeguarded, especially within domestic environments.
‘There are often wider circumstances which we must take into consideration when deciding how best to safeguard those involved.
‘We will fully review this case to understand the circumstances around the anticipated guilty plea and the public interest in bringing charges, and we will provide feedback or learning to officers involved.
‘Sentencing is a matter for the court and we respect their decision in this matter.’
‘Never been in trouble before’