A family rift led to a woman harassing her estranged adoptive mother.
Magistrates in Colchester heard Deborah Clark had repeatedly phoned and tried to visit her mother Margaret Waddington following the breakdown of their relationship
Clark, 36, whose address was given as a bail hostel in Reading, appeared before magistrates for sentencing on Friday having earlier admitted a charge of harassment between April and the end of August.
The court heard Clark had a history of pre-menstrual tension which was contributory to the "moments of anger".
Annette Redgrave, prosecuting, said Margaret Waddington, who lives in Great Oakley, was actually Clark's biological aunt but she had adopted her and become her mother.
She said they became estranged at the beginning of the year and Clark had adopted a course of conduct starting in April with numerous phone calls which she said "upset and disturbed" Mrs Waddington.
"She runs the local newsagent and post office in Great Oakley and is unable to change her number," she said.
In phone calls, she demanded the return of items she had given Mrs Waddington and told her there would be no chance of a reconciliation.
"During April, she put a letter through the shop door which had distressing contents," added Mrs Redgrave.
She said proceedings had started by this point after Mrs Waddington had earlier made an allegation of harassment against her estranged daughter, who had been arrested and bailed.
On August 30, Clark went to Mrs Waddington's home behind the mini stores in Great Oakley High Street, which she runs.
"She was very angry that the matter had been taken to court and she entered her home and workplace, made numerous threats and caused a disturbance and breached her bail conditions, making threats and swearing."
Caroline Woodley, mitigating, said the two women had been close and it had been very upsetting when things broke down between them.
She said Clark knew there would not be reconciliation now and had lost her job, her home in Harwich and friends because she had to stay in a bail hostel in Reading.
"She has a marked history of pre-menstrual tension and this may go some way to explaining these moments of anger. It is fair to say she has never hurt anyone during these times," she added.
Magistrates put a restraining order on Clark preventing her from approaching Mrs Waddington, and ordered her to pay £100 compensation and £75 costs
Published Monday, December 16, 2002
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