Court Report: 22/09/2020 @ Inner London Crown Court
I’m in Courtroom 10 before Her Honour Judge Newbery for the sentencing of Sophia Tashawar, 44, of Warrington, Lancashire for an offence that took place almost 11 years ago.
The prosecution tells the court that the complainant, a 13-year-old boy who I shall call “WR”, was out trick-or-treating in East London on Halloween 2009. WR arrived at the defendants house as part of a group and he was wearing what was described as a “Scream Mask”.
We hear the victim proceeded to look through the letter box and saw Ms Tashawar approaching the door. The defendant shoved an object through the letterbox, most likely a screwdriver, and the victim suffers a cut to the eyelid requiring two stitches.
The court is told the police were called and although initially denying all knowledge of the incident in a subsequent interview she said she had been fearful the group were going to frighten her children and the resulting injury was completely accidental.
The court is told the matter was set for trial starting on 24th January 2011 however despite witnesses attending on the first day she failed to show.
The defence tells the court that the family had been the subject of repeated episodes of harassment in their East London home. On the night in question the police had already been called prior to the arrival of the group due to the actions of others.
We hear that the mother is “extremely remorseful” and as a mother she knows what it must have been like for the victims parents.
In explanation of failing to show for the trial we hear the Ms Tashawar went abroad as her father was seriously ill. Having travelled in-and-out of the UK several times since it would appear this outstanding matter was not detected up by police. The court is told this could be because the surname was spelt differently, and the year of birth was ’70 on one document and ’76 on another.
In any event we’re told an application to the Home Office which involved a finger print check resurfaced the matter.
In passing sentence Her Honour Judge Newbery describes this as “a very unusual case” and said the incident occurred “against a background of harassment”.
Having considered all matters, including Ms Tashawar’s responsibilities as a mother of 3 children the court decides to hand down a 8-month custodial sentence for ABH and a 1-month custodial sentence to run consecutively.
In weighing up whether to suspend the sentence or not the judge was aware of the pressure on the prison system and the difficult conditions that currently exist. There was a strong chance of rehabilitation in any event as “she was never going to anything like this ever again”.
In total a 9-month custodial sentence suspended for 12 months with costs of £400.
And what happened to the victim? Well the CPS were unable to trace him so he’ll have no knowledge that justice has finally been done.
Mouse in the Court 