likely sentence for mother from hell

[lawsanass]

Please understand first off, I really hope they throw the book at her as I cant stand her, her poor kids have gone though hell......A local woman with 2 previous D/D convictions was arrested Thurs. After a 3 year ban she had only just got her licence back. The police were called after she had stopped her car on the road and her 16 yr old son was trying to grab her 2 year old from her lap. She had been driving with him on her lap! The 16 year old had got out of the car trying to pull the baby off her but she had failed to put the handbrake on and the car rolled back crushing his leg between the door and a lampost ( just bruising to leg) She was not released from police station and is apparently in court today. I understand there are 12 offences to be considered, some of which are, no insurance, no MOT, no child restraint, drink driving, injury to another person. I dont know what the others are. Baby has been taken by social services and 16 year old is with an uncle at the moment. Has anyone got any idea of her possible sentence and would it go to crown court, thanks

[Abdulmajid]

I doubt if she would receive any more than 12 months in clink and a 24 month ban so the local Mags would deal.

Death penalty would be best, but hey ho.

And in USA she may be tried for attempted murder through wreckless driving which can hold life. They have it cracked over the pond if you ask me.

[New Judge]

Unless dangerous driving is among them, none of the offences you describe are indictable and so the magistrates will deal. Maximum sentence is therefore six months, and in reality if she does receive a custodial sentence it will be considerably shorter than that.

Length of driving ban could be considerable, though.

[lawsanass]

thanks for your replies. since the court appearance saturday, have discovered that she has been put on remand. does this mean that the case has been referred to crown court?

[New Judge]

No it does not.

It means that the matter has been adjourned to be continued at a later date. The defendant is remanded to appear back in court on that date. The remand can be in custody though in this case is more likely to be on bail.

As I said in my earlier answer, this matter is extremely unlikely to be referred to the Crown Court. Very few driving offences are eligible to be dealt with by the higher court. Although dangerous driving is one of them, from what you say it does not seem likely that this will be among the charges.

Even if it is, it will only be referred to the Crown Court if either the magistrates think it is too serious for them to deal with or the defendant pleads not guilty and elects trial by judge and jury. This seems unlikely in the circumstances you describe.

[lawsanass]

I have today found out that she is in Ashford, Middlesex, on remand for 3 weeks, pending trial, does that change things, thankyou New Judge

[New Judge]

You need to find out what the charges are.