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City centre graffiti woman spared jail term
A woman who sprayed offensive graffiti on Peterborough Town Hall and banks and building societies in the city centre in September has avoided a jail sentence – so she can get help.
Samantha Moss (24) went on the rampage in the city centre on the night of Thursday, 8 September.
During the graffiti spree, Moss sprayed words and pictures over Peterborough Town Hall, causing £2,000 damage, and on doors and windows of banks and building societies, causing over £10,000 damage.
It was the second time Moss, whose address was given in court as Hope House, Peterborough, had gone on a vandalism spree, having smashed bank’s windows with a hammer in December 2009.
Yesterday she appeared at Peterborough Crown Court, where she was given a two month sentence, suspended for one year for breaching an anti-social behaviour order, imposed after the first incident, and a two month sentence, suspended for one year, after admitting three counts of criminal damage, with seven others taken into consideration.
She was also told to take part in a mental health treatment order, to help combat her problems, which had led her to feel suicidal while in prison waiting for sentence.
The case had been adjourned earlier in the week, after Judge Nic Madge said he was concerned about the support network she had available.
The court heard from Mary Bluff, Moss’s support work, who said: “Sam will have the number of the city’s crisis team with her when she leaves court.
“The team work 24 hours, so there will be someone to turn to if there is a crisis.
At a previous hearing, Jehad Mustafa, defending, told the court Moss had a difficult upbringing, and had a history of self harm. However, the court was also told Moss had been engaging well with mental health teams in the city.
The court also heard that Moss was “vulnerable and likeable, but with a borderline personality disorder.”
Judge Madge, sentencing, said: “On one night you spray painted a number of buildings in Peterborough town centre, including banks, building societies and the town hall.
“The CCTV evidence and your tag – the initials you used – meant you were bound to be caught. You made no effort to disguise yourself and were still wearing the same clothing the next morning.”
Backstory:
DURING Moss’s spree she sprayed black and red paint on both the front and the back of the town hall in Bridge Street, Peterborough.
She also sprayed graffiti at branches of Nat West, Cheltenham and Gloucester, Norwich and Peterborough, Halifax, HSBC, Santander Nationwide and WH Smith.
In January 2010, she was given a six-month jail sentence, suspended for two years and an ASBO after she went on the rampage smashing windows of banks, building societies - including many of the same buildings as in the latest attack - and Peterborough Crown Court with a hammer in December 2009.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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