A MOTHER who repeatedly missed appointments with her probation officer has been jailed.

Swindon magistrates sentenced Tabitha Karen Fripp, 27, of no fixed abode, to six weeks in custody.

The woman, who was attending sessions with probation officers in Swindon and at the Nelson Trust women’s centre in the town, was convicted of failing to comply with the requirements of a suspended sentence order.

Magistrates heard that she had failed to attend appointments on five occasions. It was the second time Fripp had appeared before courts for failing to comply with the court order.

Defending, Gordon Hotson said that his client was ill on at least one occasion – but had been unable to get a sick note from her GP. She had been prescribed antibiotics and ear drops to fight an ear infection.

He added that, since his client had lost her son to social services her council house in Purton was deemed to be too big for her and was repossessed.

“Since then she has been sofa surfing in Warminster, Trowbridge and Bath,” Mr Hotson said. These circumstances made it difficult to attend appointments in Swindon, putting his client at the mercy of public transport. Fripp had also had experienced delays in claiming benefits under the new universal credit system.

He urged magistrates to treat her leniently, saying that a spell in jail would lead to her having to begin the process of applying for benefits.

However, magistrates took a harder line. Chairman of the bench Mrs Linda Raine said: “We don’t feel that you’ve given this order the respect you should. This is your second breach.

“We feel we have no option but to activate the suspended sentence in full.”

Magistrates sentenced Fripp to six weeks in custody. No order was made for court costs.