Crime Files: Six months in prison for Worcester woman after begging for 50p

Marie Baker was sentenced at Worcester County Court three years ago after breaching a civil injunction banning her from begging in the city.

The then 38 year-old breached the injunction twice but the 26-week sentences was condemned as "a damning indictment of our justice system" by the Howard League for Penal Reform. In sentencing Baker, district judge Philip MacKenzie said he was concerned about her appearing without legal representation.

Mr MacKenzie said he was "disturbed and concerned" whether proceeding with sentencing would breach Baker's human rights.

He said: "I have reached the conclusion that she can have a fair hearing, and that every opportunity has been afforded to her to prepare a case with assistance from a solicitor, but through no fault of her own, she has not been able to secure that.

READ MORE: Worcester woman jailed for six months after begging for 50p

"It is wholly unsatisfactory that the system conspires against a vulnerable individual like this, so that she cannot get the legal aid and solicitor assistance that she really needs."

Mr MacKenzie added that while Baker's begging was not "aggressive" or persistent, she had repeatedly breached court orders meaning a more significant penalty was needed.

He also said: "The aggravating factors, quite obviously, are the repeat and continuing disobedience of the court orders.

"I am conscious that on both these two occasions, Ms Baker has simply asked for 50p. It has not been in an aggressive way. She has been told ‘no’ and she has not persisted. There is no aggravating feature in the way she has done this."

The judgement report detailed how Baker had an alibi and believed CCTV images would prove her account – however she struggled to provide the evidence.

READ MORE: Homeless woman who targeted elderly people faces begging ban

She also claimed mistaken identity and that police 'had got it in for her' – however both were dismissed by the judge.

District judge MacKenzie said: "All those matters, potentially give rise to a line of defence which would better be explored by a solicitor assisting her.

"Knowing that, it is with great reservation that I have allowed the case to proceed today on the basis that it would be impossible to keep adjourning this case."

Between the injunction being granted in December 2015 and her sentencing in early 2017, Baker breached the order four times, with the first three breaches resulting in jail sentences of one day, 28 days and three months respectively.

Baker was sentenced on February 8 to be sentenced for two more breaches of the injunction, in November 2016 and January 2017.

The decision to jail her was condemned by the Howard League, who called it: "An utterly depressing case which highlights how all too often our courts are dealing with failings in social welfare and punishing poverty and vulnerability.

READ MORE: Woman preyed on the elderly and vulnerable in Malvern

In November 2019, Baker failed to attend a court hearing to decide whether or not to impose a Criminal Behaviour Order. The begging ban was delayed because she did not attend a hearing to discuss it at Worcester Magistrates Court.

Baker was previously convicted of begging in a public place and causing racially or religiously aggravated harassment, alarm or distress in September 2019.

Shawn Williams, prosecuting, told magistrates Baker had pleaded guilty at a hearing the same day and was fined £100 for the racially aggravated public order offence. No separate penalty was imposed for the begging offence.

Mr Williams said: “Her conduct involves her locating herself by cash machines in particular areas and public places seeking, and often aggressively seeking, money from individuals, causing harassment, causing alarm and distress, frequently to elderly individuals.”

We have previously reported how Baker promised to go shopping for a 57-year-old disabled man, but instead stole his £10. In another incident, West Mercia Police said she had stolen £600 from a housebound 86-year-old with cerebral palsy.

As a result, she was served with an injunction prohibiting her from visiting the Pickersleigh ward in Malvern.