Sutton mum smashed her way into own home while partner was in pub with keys

Rebecca Stratford's partner was still in the pub with the house keys and was not answering her phone calls, Nottingham Magistrates’ Court heard, so she smashed a patio door at the rear of the property, causing £500 damage, on October 29, at about 7.30pm.

Daniel Pietryka, prosecuting, said Stratford, who has been out of trouble since 2014, was later woken up by the police and charged with criminal damage.

Stratford, aged 36, of St Michael's Street, admitted criminal damage.

Her solicitor said there was no suggestion of domestic abuse and the couple are still together. No request has been made for a restraining order.

He said: “They had been out drinking. She could have walked back to the pub, but thought: ‘No, I'm tired. I want to get in’.

“There was little or no planning. This offence was committed on impulse.”

He said the window is still boarded up and their landlord has told them to fix it.

Sentencing, district judge Grace Leong told Stratford that the charge was made more serious because young children were present when she smashed the patio door and “seeing that must have traumatised them”.

However, the judge said: “I treat this as a one-off incident."

Stratford was handed a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay a £26 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.