A WOMAN with Asperger’s syndrome has admitted breaching a restraining order designed to stop her hanging around police stations.
Victoria Cartmel, aged 23, of Berrill Close, Droitwich, admitted the offence when she appeared before magistrates in Worcester.
The court was told that Cartmel was in Nine Foot Way in Droitwich, near the police station, on Wednesday, February 9, in breach of the order and without reasonable excuse to be there.
The breach of the restraining order also placed her in breach of both a suspended sentence order and a deferred sentence.
Jason Patel, defending, said Cartmel had recently been diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome by a psychiatrist and that the restraining order was put in place before this was known.
Asperger’s syndrome is a form of high-functioning autism which can make social interaction difficult.
Mr Patel said the order prevented her from being in certain roads around Droitwich and Worcester police stations.
He said: “It’s effectively just her standing on a particular road. In relation to this and in relation to Asperger’s syndrome, one of the factors is a lack of understanding.
“She doesn’t understand what she’s doing wrong. She doesn’t have the ability to learn from that.”
Cartmel was granted bail on condition that she does not contact directly or indirectly Rosen Sandov, to stay away from Nine Foot Way and not to enter the areas shown on a map which was presented to the defendant.
Liam Finch, prosecuting, said: “The condition to keep away from Rosen Sandov in no way reflects on his character. It’s simply that he’s present when she offends. It’s not that he causes her to offend, simply that he’s present.”
Cartmel must return to court for a further hearing on Wednesday, February 23.
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