Woman accused of pooing behind crêperie

A woman accused of defecating behind a crêperie while drunk has been spared a prison term, after magistrates chose not to activate a suspended sentence. Tanya Casey, 34, was given a £145 fine at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court on Monday, after being seen in the Holy Trinity Church grounds on December 1, just yards from the Cambridge Crepes food stall in Sidney Street, Cambridge.

The court heard how two sets of people approached John Fenton, who runs the crêpe stall, and told him there was a woman defecating in the church grounds. Claire Hancock, prosecuting, explained how Casey “could be seen with her trousers down lent up against the church, defecating.” She was breathalysed by police after the incident and gave a reading of 121 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.



Sandeep Kainth, mitigating, said Casey contested the nature of the action, pleading guilty to urinating but not defecating. Mr Fenton, who set up the crêpe stall in September 2009, said: “These disgusting incidents that are becoming far more common are affecting my business, they make customers go elsewhere. Who would want to eat with this happening right in front of them?” In November Casey was caught in possession of articles used for fraud, including a counterfeit £20 note, and received a 12-month suspended sentence.

But magistrates opted not to activate that eight-week sentence when she appeared in court again on Monday, instead handing her a fine. Sue Griffin, the lead magistrate, said: “Whatever it is that you were doing it’s extremely unpleasant in a public place and totally inappropriate and unnecessary. We are not going to activate the suspended sentence even though you committed this offence so soon after being put on it.” Casey was ordered to pay a fine of £75, contribute £50 towards court costs, and pay a surcharge of £20. Her period of supervision was extended from 12 months to 14 months.