A priest gave a struggling mum free food and hundreds of pounds and she responded by trying to rob him outside his church.
Zoe Paul carried out the grim attack on Father David Potter outside St Albert’s Church in Stockbridge Village early last year. Liverpool Crown Court heard the 36-year-old was on drugs as she targeted Father Potter on the morning of March 16, 2021, grabbing him and demanding he give her money.
Nardeen Nehmat, prosecuting, said Paul had been to the church on Hollow Croft many times in the preceding months. Father Potter had tried to help her after she told him she was in need, eventually giving her a total of £780 and free food over a number of visits.
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However, he later found her stories became increasingly unbelievable and her mood more aggressive. On one occasion, she ran into the church as mass was about to start and forced her way into the confession box before demanding money.
On the morning of the attempted robbery, she arrived as he opened up the church, again asking him to give her cash. Ms Nehmat said he refused and tried to move away but she then accosted him “persistently” trying to stop him from getting away and pushing him.
She said: “He tried to get away and use his mobile phone to call the police. She said ‘if you call the police I will get you arrested for assault’.” Ms Nehmat said Paul then put her hands in his pockets trying to look for money and continuing to jostle him. Eventually a member of the public managed to distract her and Father Potter got back inside.
In a statement to the court, Father Potter said Paul was “violent and menacing” and CCTV showed her continually trying to get money from him. Of Paul’s aggressive behaviour, he said: “It was like contending with a wild animal.”
Michael O’Brien, defending, said Paul, who has no previous convictions, was ashamed of what she had done and wanted to ensure she did nothing similar ever again. While she had originally denied being the one who targeted Father Potter and said it was someone else, she soon admitted attempted robbery.
He said Paul wished to apologise for her behaviour, saying she was “in a really bad place” at the time of the incident and battling a significant drug abuse problem. Mr O’Brien said: “At the time she was homeless and addicted to Class A drugs, clearly living a chaotic lifestyle. That does not excuse her behaviour but it perhaps does partially explain it.”
Paul herself apologised numerous times during the hearing and said she was seeking treatment to help her addiction to Class A drugs. Probation officers confirmed she tested negative for drugs on a number of occasions earlier this year and said there would be room available for her on a program run at Brook House if she avoided prison.
The judge, Louise Brandon, said Paul’s attack had clearly affected Father Potter, who said he still felt dread when opening or locking up the church gates on his own. Judge Brandon said: “That behaviour of yours had a serious impact on Father Potter. Much of this hearing has been about you but you need to think about what you have done to him.”
She handed Paul, of Barons Hey, an 18 month jail term suspended for two years. Under the terms of the sentence Paul will have to undergo drug testing twice a week and attend Brook House regularly for nine months.
She will also have to complete 15 rehabilitation days and a restraining order will prevent her contacting Father Potter or entering Hollow Croft. Addressing her, Judge Brandon said: “If you breach that order you will be back here in front of me. If you commit other offences you will be back here in front of me. If there are any problems reported by Brook House or the probation service you will be back here in front of me.
“If you and I meet again because you have not completed that drug rehabilitation order or any of the requirements you need to properly, you will be going to prison.”
