A woman from Northampton who threw a chopping knife at her neighbour has been handed an injunction warning she faces arrest if she attacks him again.
Frances May Smith, of Littlewood Close, Spencer, threw the knife and other items at her neighbour out of her window, which overlooks the entrance to their block of flats. Other items thrown at him included a garden gnome and a DVD player.
Northampton Crown Court heard she had been arrested and sectioned several times, but had always been subsequently assessed as mentally well. Her behaviour allegedly became so frightening for her neighbour that a meeting of police, Northampton Borough council’s anti-social behaviour team and other professionals had to be called.
Judge Alison Hampton said: “I’m really quite surprised if she has been released each time because you can be detained if you are deemed a risk to others.”
The borough council applied to the court for an injunction, which was granted last week in Mrs Smith’s absence. She will be able to give her side of the story to the court at a second hearing, which is likely to be held in August.
In the meantime the injunction bars her from contacting her neighbour or causing him alarm, harassment or distress to him, households or visitors. Any breach of those would be grounds for arrest.