ANGRY that she felt she had been the victim of incompetence by the police, a Chard woman called the non emergency 101 number and threatened to kill the person who had written a recent report.

Helen Mary McConnell had been arrested by police earlier in the year for being drunk and disorderly and as a result had had the top of her thumb taken off after a cell door was slammed on her hand.

She also complained about the police losing some of her jewellery following her arrest, and when she received a report about the situation she was upset as she claimed it to be incompetent.

The 57-year-old defendant, of Ravensmead, was charged that she sent by means of a public electronic communications network at Chard a message that was grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character.

She had initially pleaded not guilty to the offence but changed her plea to guilty on the day of an anticipated trial before Somerset Magistrates.

She also admitted being in breach of a 12 month conditional discharge imposed at the same court in Yeovil on February 2 for an offence of being drunk and disorderly.

Prosecutor Ben Winzar said that shortly before 10am the police received a phone call on the 101 non emergency number from the defendant saying she was involved in an ongoing case with the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

“She then said “I’m going to f***ing kill him. If I had him here I would kill him” and then made threats to harm herself,” he said.

“Officers were despatched to her address and when they arrived they arrested her on suspicion of making threats to kill.

“During interview McConnell said that when she phoned 101 she was in a very distressed state and suffered from depression adding that the mornings were not a very good time for her.”

Mr Winzar said the defendant was also in breach of a conditional discharge imposed on February 2 this year for the drunk and disorderly offence and said that as a result of her call, disruption had been caused to the police force.

Defending solicitor Ray Peters said that McConnell had previously worked as a staff nurse until 2015 when she developed mental health issues and gave up her employment.

Since then she had gone through a number of serious issues including bereavement, and her mental health became worse and she was diagnosed with a depressive disorder.

“She attempted to find relief through drinking and that resulted in her being arrested the previous time, and while at the police station a cell door was slammed shut and it took the top of her thumb off,” he said.

“She was taken to hospital and her property followed her, but a number of items of jewellery were lost so she made a complaint to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

“On the day of the offence she had just read a report prepared by Mr Turner and said it was incompetent and became emotional and upset and then uttered the words the call handler heard on the phone.”

He said the defendant accepted it must have caused some alarm, but the police were more concerned about McConnell’s welfare, and when she was arrested she admitted making the call but said she did so out of frustration.

He said that since the commission of this offence the defendant had received a substantial payout for the jewellery and had also been prescribed different medication.

The magistrates fined her £40 with a £30 victim surcharge but did not impose any costs due to her limited means.

They took no action over the breach of the conditional discharge and allowed the original order to run.