Suspended sentence for Bacup heroin addict (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Suspended sentence for Bacup heroin addict

4:04pm Thursday 9th September 2010 in News

A MIDDLE-AGED heroin addict who attacked her partially-disabled mother with her walking frame was spared immediate jail.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Lynne Talbot, 45, had also been drunk when she hit the pensioner victim with the frame.

Talbot, who stole £40 from terrified 65-year-old Kathleen Talbot, had previously raised a bottle at her mother after she had been drinking.

Talbot, said to be a “problematic drug user”, who has 16 previous convictions, left the scene after her mother fled next door to get help.

She was later arrested, and interviewed, and told police she could not really remember what had happened.

The defendant, of Alma Street, Bacup, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm and theft, in April.

She was sentenced to 30 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, with 12 months’ supervision, and a nine- month drug rehabilitation programme.

The judge said he was prepared to accept Talbot’s actions were somewhat out of character.

Martin Hackett, for Talbot, said: “It is the first time she has appeared at the crown court.”