Woman who had knife in Stirling Primark goes to jail

Sep 18 2009 by Gregor White, Stirling Observer Friday

A SHERIFF refused to consider further examination of a woman’s mental state before sending her to prison this week.

Ann Marie Ashbridge appeared from custody at Stirling Sheriff Court on Wednesday having previously admitted being in possession of a knife at the city branch of Primark on August 12.

Admitting his client’s previous drug use had, at one point, seen her using seven or eight bags of heroin a day, defence agent George Higgins said she had now detoxified and fully intended to engage with a treatment programme.

He also asked for a deferral of sentence based on the fact that Ashbridge (23) of 59B Main Street, Sauchie had been waiting months for a neurological assessment with the hope that this would shed some light on difficulties she had, particularly in terms of understanding procedures and following directions.

Saying Ashbridge herself believed her difficulties stemmed from a car accident she had been involved in he said: “In my submission the court should perhaps give some consideration to that matter before dealing with this case.”

He added: “Clearly the outcome of that assessment will go a long way to determining what can be done for her.”

Sheriff Wyllie Robertson disagreed however, sentencing Ashbrigde to seven months imprisonment.

“You have an extensive record from a variety of offending, including misuse of drugs, anti-social behaviour and assault,” he told her.

“Possession of a knife is a serious matter and in all the circumstances I don’t consider there is any merit in the court embarking down the road of a neurological assessment when that is a matter that has already been outstanding for nearly two years.”

Ashbridge’s sentence was reduced from nine months because of an early guilty plea though she was also told that two months of the sentence was due to the fact that she had already been on bail for other offences at the time she was found with the knife.

The sentence was backdated to August 13 when she had originally been placed on remand.