Woman arrested for swearing at yobs who smashed window

A woman who swore at yobs when they smashed her bedroom window was arrested — because she was causing them distress. Bolton magistrates yesterday cleared Natalie Harrop of any wrongdoing, but she was bound over and warned to behave for the next year or face a £100 fine. After the hearing, Miss Harrop and her boyfriend, Robert Berthan, said they had lost faith in the legal system. Mr Berthan, aged 25, said: “We are very angry.

“These lads smash our window, chase me down the street and, even though the police are standing right next to them, they aren’t arrested. We know Natalie did nothing wrong and the courts agreed.” Bolton magistrates were told how, at about 12.30am on June 12, Miss Harrop and Mr Berthan were at their home in St James Street, Farnworth, when an object, most likely a brick, smashed an upstairs bedroom window. Mr Berthan went out of the house and asked a group of youths why they had broken the window.

Photo from here.

They then chased Mr Berthan. The court heard how a patrolling police constable happened to be passing. Prosecuting solicitor Kirsten Mercer, said: “The PC noticed a male being chased by a group of about six youths.” The youths then went back to St James Street. Miss Mercer said: “Miss Harrop went outside to speak to the youths and the police. She was drinking a can of beer and shouted towards the youths. She swore at one of them. The police officer asked her to go inside the house. She remained outside and was therefore arrested.”

Suzanne Gower, defending, said: “Miss Harrop had been victimized by a group of youths. Her home had been attacked and her boyfriend had gone out and was chased. He had the house keys so she could not go back inside.” Officers arrested Miss Harrop and charged her with using abusive words within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress. Miss Gower said police considered Miss Harrop’s swearing to possibly have distressed the youths.