A WORKINGTON woman who fell out with a neighbour over her repeated requests to borrow a lawn mower robbed him, ripping a gold chain from his neck.

Samantha Edgar, 34, committed the offence after suffering a series of bereavements, Carlisle Crown Court heard. The defendant, of Rowe Terrace, Workington, admitted robbery.

Prosecutor Colin Buckle outlined the facts.

Edgar and the victim had known each other for a long time, and she was in the habit of affectionately referring to him as “granddad,” Mr Buckle told the court. 

“They had a good relationship,” said the barrister. “He would regularly lend her money and as neighbours they helped each other. They got on quite well.”

In early May, 2023, she asked to borrow the neighbour’s lawn mower and then later she asked him for cigarettes. On June 1 the man was in the kitchen of his home, making dinner when Edgar walked in through the back door.

“She was again asking to borrow his lawn mower,” said Mr Buckle. “He refused, saying she should buy her own. But he eventually agreed and allowed her to use the lawn mower again.”

On that afternoon, it transpired the lawn mower was broken and the defendant borrowed electrical tape from her neighbour to fix it. But neither the tape nor the lawn mower was returned.

The man decided to visit the defendant to retrieve the two borrowed items. When he arrived, Edgar asked him if she could borrow £1.80 to buy milk. 

The man refused, no doubt frustrated with her behaviour.

Later, he was at home with his wife when Edgar arrived and started banging on his door, which the neighbour tried to ignore.

“When he eventually went to the door, she made an accusation, saying he had touched her and she would call the police,” continued Mr Buckle. “He did not react and told her to go away.”

It was at this point that Edgar grabbed for the three gold chains that the victim was wearing around his neck.

As she did this, the man pushed her away and one of the chains snapped as Edgar fell to the floor. A male friend of the defendant heard Edgar shouting for help and ran over to her, pulling her away after punching the man.

Edgar left the scene with the broken gold chain, which was valued at £1,800. Her offending history, the court heard, consisted of 11 previous offences, which include a battery assault and violent behaviour in a police station.

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Marion Weir, defending, told the court: “She accepts that this is serious offending and she is deeply remorseful about her actions on this day. She is really at odds to explain her behaviour.”

The barrister said Edgar struggled with “deep-seated” mental health issues, and longstanding drug and alcohol issues. 

The defendant committed the robbery two weeks before the first anniversary of the death of her mother and it was Edgar who found her mother. “That has, not unsurprisingly, had a significant effect,” said Miss Weir.

Edgar’s childhood had been characterised by trauma and witnessing violence and she had lost six people who were close to her. She had also been diagnosed with PTSD and psychosis.

Miss Weir added: “She apologises, not just to the court but also to [the victim]. She recognises that she has lost another adult whom she had held dear to her… There is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.

Judge Michael Fanning accepted that the defendant had endured a “desperately traumatic childhood.” He said: “It doesn’t surprise me that you turned to drugs and your habit was a very significant one indeed.

“It’s remarkable that you managed to avoid trouble despite the difficulties you had and despite your drug addiction, until 2021. But here you are, with a relatively limited record.

“It would appear you have managed to move on from drug addiction. The problem is that you replaced that with alcohol abuse and this offending stems from your inability to control your emotions.”

Judge Fanning accepted that there is a “realistic prospect of rehabilitation” for Edgar. He imposed an eleven-month jail term, suspended for a year.

The sentence includes 20 rehabilitation activity days and a two-year restraining order, banning any contact with the victim. Nor can she go to Needham Drive in Workington, the area where the man lives.