Sunderland criminal warned she could be locked up after breaching bail by having contact with witnesses

Victoria Kelly, 31, of Quayside View, High Street West, Sunderland, was caught by police at her grandmother’s home in the presence of her attack victim and another case witness, a court heard.

Being in their presence put her in breach of her bail, granted by South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on March 30, which forbade her from having contact with prosecution witnesses.

Kelly admitted the burglary and assault charge when she appeared at the same court on that date and is due to be sentenced on July 2.

John Lee, chair of the bench at the magistrates’ court, told Kelly, who was arrested for the breach on Monday, May 8: “You have pleaded guilty to this offence.

“These are court orders and when the court tells you to do something you do it.

“Let me tell you that if you are found in breach of your bail again there’s a good chance of you going to Low Newton Prison before your sentence.”

Prosecutor Clare Irving told the hearing: “In a short period of time this lady has committed a breach of bail.

“She was in contact with both prosecution witnesses when arrested. This lady has had every opportunity to comply.

“She was aware that if she breached her bail she could be committed into custody. There is nothing to say that she will comply with her bail.”

Jason Smith, defending, said: “She admitted the offences way back in May. Unfortunately, the accommodation that was available for her then was then no longer available.

“She tried to get alternative accommodation. She has to have somewhere where she can plug her tag in every night, to rev it up, to give it juice.

“She went to her mum’s and then to her gran’s address. The police knew she had nowhere to go and that she was at her gran’s. This is the first breach of bail.”

Kelly was rebailed on condition she does not contact prosecution witnesses, lives at Quayside View, does not tamper with her tag, and does not enter an area of Sunderland which includes the A19, A690 and the A1081.

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