Grandmother, 59, is hauled to court for breaking a box of £3 eggs ‘with intent’ during kitchen spat with her mother – costing taxpayers ‘£1,000’
A grandmother was hauled to court for breaking a box of £3 eggs – with intent.
Prosecuting Alissa Ash, 59, over the kitchen tiff with her own mother is thought to have cost taxpayers as much as £1,000 in legal and court costs.
And the magistrate who sentenced her appeared baffled the case had come to court, saying he was ‘struggling to find any criminality’ before handing down an absolute discharge.
Police were called to calm the situation after a spat between Ash and her mother, Ann-Marie Ash, 89, at Mrs Ash’s home.
During the row, Ash threw the box of eggs on the floor.
At a hearing on Thursday, Guildford Magistrates’ Court was told police wanted to give Ash a caution but she refused to accept it.
Prosecuting Alissa Ash, 59, (pictured) over the kitchen tiff with her own mother is thought to have cost taxpayers as much as £1,000 in legal and court costs
File photo of Guilford Magistrates Court
As a result, she was charged with criminal damage for ‘damaging a box of eggs at the cost of £3 with intent’.
The charge added her actions were intended ‘to destroy or damage such property’ or were ‘reckless as to whether such property would be destroyed or damaged’.
In court, Ash spoke only to confirm her name and address and to plead guilty.
Manni Gosal, defending, told the court: ‘She has expressed remorse for her actions.’
Mr Gosal added that Ash, who was living at Molesey, Surrey, but is currently residing at a hotel in Thornton Heath, South London, was ‘of good character and has never been in trouble before’.
Sentencing her to an absolute discharge, magistrate James Barber said: ‘I’m struggling to find any criminality other than breaking a few eggs. I do that every time I make breakfast.’
The case was heard despite reservations even from Mrs Ash, the supposed ‘victim’.
Speaking outside court, she told The Sun her daughter’s prosecution was ‘a waste of time’.
Surrey Police said: ‘We have a duty of care to ensure that victims of crime are carefully safeguarded, especially within domestic environments.’
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