A 60-YEAR-OLD woman who attacked a mobility-scooter user and shouted racial abuse at paramedics has been put on probation for six months.
Susan Ann Louis was told by the magistrate that her behaviour had been “outrageous” and she was warned that any repeat offending would result in a prison sentence.
The Magistrate’s Court heard that Louis hit a woman on a mobility scooter on the afternoon of 31 August last year.
St Helier Centenier Paul Huelin, prosecuting, said the victim had looked in her rear-view mirror and had seen Louis behind her, clenching her right fist “like a claw”.
He said Louis hit the woman on the shoulder and then told her: “I’m going to get you when you’re on your own, don’t worry.”
Mr Huelin added that at around midday on 1 December, Louis called the ambulance service.
When paramedics eventually found her at the Town Hall, she swore at them, used racist language, and shouted: “I want the States of Jersey Ambulance Service, not the f Porto Ambulance Service.”
Pensioners attending a Christmas lunch at the Town Hall also witnessed the threatening and abusive behaviour.
The court was told that Louis and the mobility-scooter user had once been friends but had fallen out after the scooter user had repeatedly asked Louis to buy her food and had become aggressive when she refused.
Advocate Lucy Marks, defending, pointed out that the assault had been “at the lowest level”.
She added that Louis’ son – whose birthday was in November – had died nine years ago and said: “She has always found the time approaching Christmas difficult since she lost him.”
Louis had been shown body-worn footage of the incident at the Town Hall and Advocate Marks added: “There has been a decrease in the severity of her offending. I would question what custody would do for Ms Louis.”
Magistrate Bridget Shaw said she had been considering a jail sentence but was persuaded by Advocate Marks’s argument.
She told Louis: “I think the way you behaved at the Town Hall is absolutely outrageous.
“I am sorry you lost your son but you cannot use that as an excuse for shouting abuse at people in the street, near people who are elderly and vulnerable.”
She imposed six-month probation orders for assault and for threatening and abusive behaviour, to run concurrently, and added: “If this happens again, you will go to La Moye.”
