Serial Wellingborough criminal fails to turn up to court for fourth time

Chereen Gloria Scotland, 22, is already in prison after committing previous theft offences.

She had been due to appear at Northampton Magistrates' Court on November 5, 7 and 14 but had refused to get on the prison van to attend court. She was again ordered to court today (Friday, November 15) to face charges of public disorder, assault on a member of the public, assaulting a police officer, theft from Wellinborough Costa Coffee, and of resisting arrest in August and September this year.

But the court heard that, although Scotland had pleaded guilty to the offences, she had refused to come to court to liaise with probation officers who were attempting to prepare a pre-sentence report to allow her to be sentenced via a community order. Instead, she had fought against officers at HMP Peterborough.

The court heard from Scotland, who is from Townsend Close, Wellingborough over video link at today’s hearing and magistrates said they were minded to sentence her without her having seen probation officers - meaning that she would have to be given another jail term.

Osman Munir, defending Scotland, pleaded with the bench to give her one more chance.

He said: "I've spoken with the defendant and asked why she didn't come to court and she said she was ill.

"I've spoken to her about her motivation and commitment towards attending court to engage with the probation service. She's willing and able to do that. I am going to ask you to give her the benefit of the doubt. She knows that if she doesn't engage with the probation service then the court will have no choice but to give her a prison sentence."

He asked magistrates to adjourn the case until next Friday to enable his client to attend court. After a discussion, the magistrates agreed they would give Scotland - who has theft convictions dating back to 2015 - one more chance and adjourned the case until Friday, November 22 when she will be sentenced for all five crimes.