A WOMAN who scrawled ‘Halliwell rot in Hell’ on the side of a wall appeared in Swindon Magistrates' Court on Saturday morning to answer to the charges of obstructing a police officer and causing criminal damage.

Magistrates repeatedly had to ask Sharon Thomas, 46, of Raleigh Avenue, to calm down after she entered the dock shouting and bawling at the top of her voice, claiming to have been a victim of police brutality.

CPS prosecutor Michelle Hewitt told the court that Thomas had been arrested at 9.30am on Friday for obstructing a police officer in the exercising of his duty.

She had arrived in Broad Street while forensic teams were busy excavating the garden of double murderer Christopher Halliwell. The court heard that she persisted to make a nuisance of herself, which led to her being arrested.

Ms Hewitt said: “She was getting in the police officer’s way by drawing on pieces of paper and throwing them around before lighting incense sticks.

"She said she was there because she lacked any faith in the police investigation.”

Thomas is a family friend of one of the girls murdered by Halliwell, which is why she proceeded to scribble ‘Halliwell rot in Hell’ on the side of a wall.

Once arrested, she was brought back to the police station and officers brought her a tray of food. The court heard that she threw the food at the walls of her cell, which resulted in a criminal damage charge.

When she heard this from her seat in the dock, Thomas shouted: “I don’t like lamb!”

She pleaded guilty to both charges and magistrates fined her £30 for causing criminal damage. She was fined £50 for obstructing the police, but it was rescinded and taken as time served in lieu of payment. The victim surcharge was also waived.