A ROBBER who failed to turn up to be sentenced at the crown court on Friday said she panicked.
Diane Ponting was due before Swindon Crown Court’s Judge Peter Crabtree to be sentenced for a robbery committed in November last year. The 32-year-old, of Raleigh Avenue, Walcot, admitted robbing another woman of a purse.
She had been due before the crown court on Friday to be sentenced. When she failed to appear, Judge Peter Crabtree issued a warrant for Ponting’s arrest.
By Saturday, she had been picked up by police – appearing in the dock at Swindon Magistrates’ Court that morning.
Magistrates took the unusual step of releasing Pointing on unconditional bail after hearing that the defendant was particularly vulnerable. Sam Arif, defending, said her client had panicked: “She was petrified of what would happen if she did turn up.”
She was bailed to appear before Swindon Crown Court tomorrow.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article