UK Woman With Extensive Criminal Record Spares Jail for Assaults

A woman with a decade-long history of offenses, amassing 19 convictions for 74 offenses, has avoided jail time despite a recent incident involving the assault of a neighbor and four police officers. Anne Egglestone, 63, was handed an 18-week jail term, suspended for two years, and a three-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) by Norwich Crown Court.

Egglestone admitted to four counts of assaulting a constable, two counts of failing to comply with a Community Protection Notice, obstructing a constable, common assault, and criminal damage during the August 16 incident in Thorpe St Andrew, near Norwich. She was also ordered to pay nearly £700 in compensation and costs.

Neighbors have described Egglestone as a "volcanic neighbour from hell" and expressed fear and frustration over her persistent anti-social behavior. They reported feeling like "prisoners in their own homes" and are reluctant to hang laundry outside or put out their bins.

During the most recent offense, officers responded to an assault on a woman and damage to her mobile phone during a garden party. Footage from the incident showed an officer with a Taser warning Egglestone to exit her property before restraining her outside her bungalow. Egglestone reportedly bit and kicked the officers.

Egglestone's criminal history dates back at least a decade, including previous jail sentences for public order offenses, criminal damage, and breaching CBOs. In 2017, she was jailed for 26 weeks for public order offenses and breaching a CBO. Later that year, she received another 26-week sentence and a restraining order for criminal damage and public order offenses. In 2019, she was jailed for two years for sending offensive messages and breaching a CBO by contacting the police.

Her lawyer has stated that Egglestone lives alone, divorced ten years ago, and has two children, one in New Zealand and another with whom she has no contact. Neighbors reported that problems began around 2015 when a family across the road undertook building work, which Egglestone took exception to due to noise and vehicle traffic.

Sergeant Sam Barwick of Norfolk Constabulary expressed hope that the CBO would deter Egglestone's behavior, noting its detrimental effect on residents and emergency service workers. However, neighbors remain unconvinced, calling for her to be "locked up" and expressing fears that the behavior will continue until she is stopped.