A mum who previously stabbed her partner after three bottles of wine smashed her neighbour's windscreen while "black out drunk".
Julie Gibbons previously appeared at Liverpool Crown Court in May last year for stabbing her partner Paul Harrison after accusing him of cheating. The 57-year-old, of O’Sullivan Crescent, St Helens, was back in court this afternoon, May 25, for breaching her licence conditions - as well as smashing in her neighbour's car in another drunken episode.
The court heard on March 10 this year, neighbour Ian Bridge left his home and saw his car was damaged. The windscreen was smashed and there were scratches to the bodywork. The total cost of repairing the car was nearly £2,700 - most of which was covered on insurance except for a £115 excess.
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Ben Stanley, prosecution, told the court Gibbons was caught on CCTV smashing in the windscreen. Gibbons allegedly used some sort of object to smash the windscreen but the CCTV was unable to determine what.
Mr Stanley read out a victim impact statement from Mr Bridge where the man said his family were "living in fear of what happens next". The statement said the family are "anxious and worried about her next actions" - and they had lost sleep which had affected their mental and physical health.
The court heard Mr Bridge and his family were "fearful of her unprovoked aggressive behaviour" which included shouting at them from her windows. They added she had shown no remorse and the ordeal felt like it was "never ending". The family wanted a restraining order imposed for these reasons.
The court heard Gibbons, who was previously given 15 months imprisonment suspended for 15 months for actual bodily harm, had also breached her licence by missing two appointments. These were on November 24, 2022 and February 17 this year.
Adam White, defending, told the court his client had a long history of alcohol abuse and the breaches came at a difficult time in her life. Gibbons' 28-year-old niece died on the day of her appointment in November last year - and an aunt who she was particularly close to also died in the same period.
In terms of the criminal damage, Mr White said the defendant had no recollection of it because she was "black out drunk". Gibbons was told about the incident the next day by her daughter and recognised herself on CCTV when shown the footage by the police.
Mr White said the incident was the motivation Gibbons needed and since she has largely abstained from alcohol apart from "a couple of wobbles". She had also engaged with alcohol treatment services and went most days.
The defence also noted a restraining order would be "unfathomable" due to the inevitable incidental contact that would naturally occur given they were neighbours with adjoining houses.
Sentencing, Recorder Graham Wells told Gibbons she had caused upset and worry to Mr Bridge's family. Recorder Wells said: "You say you have no recollection of it. That does not make it better, it makes it worse."
However the judge acknowledged "events had conspired" against Gibbons in recent months - while also taking into account her guilty plea to the criminal damage. He extended the suspended sentence to 18 months and ordered Gibbons to carry out 15 days of rehabilitation activities. He set a fine of £200, £115 compensation and £300 costs.
The judge also imposed a restraining order on Gibbons to restrict the contact she has with the Bridge family. He noted there would be contact due to them being neighbours, but none that would cause "harassment, alarm or distress".
Addressing Gibbons, Recorder Wells said: "You have heard the order I made. Just make sure you keep it. You have had a chance - do not come back."
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