Mum-of-five, 39, and pal, 29, go on drunken rampage causing £20,000 damage to cars leaving family ‘scared to death’
A MUM-OF-FIVE and her pal caused more than £20,000 worth of damage while out on a drunken rampage.
Paula Gardiner, 39, and Tanisha Morris, 29, wrecked several cars during their early morning carnage – which left their victims terrified to leave home.
The family was so petrified they ended up pulling their kids out of school and moving out of the city just to escape the boozy duo, StokeonTrentLive reports.
Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard their antics followed a row with their victim, who asked Gardiner to keep the noise down on August 30, 2020.
Morris arrived in a taxi a short time later and together they unleashed the vandalism attack in Johnson Place, Chell Heath, which was caught on CCTV.
Between them, Gardiner and Morris, who had both been drinking, broke wing mirrors and bent windscreen wipers on four cars at 7.15am.
They caused £20,459 worth of damage and left the family “scared to death”.
Gary Cook, prosecuting, said: “The complainant was kept awake by noise at night.
“The victim has moved his family out of Stoke-on-Trent. His children have had to change schools. They have moved away from friends and family.
“He said ‘I was scared to death’. It’s a high value of damage.”
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Representing Gardiner, a single mother to five children, Simon White said she was “ashamed” of her behaviour.
Stuart Muldoon, representing Morris, also said she was “ashamed” of her actions, which he described as being “out of character”.
Judge David Fletcher said: “There is 17 minutes of CCTV. I was shocked to see that was happening on a quiet housing estate at 7.15am on a summer’s morning.
“Cars were being damaged. There’s nothing that could justify that behaviour.
“I am told you are ashamed. You were both under the influence of drink.”
Gardiner and Morris pleaded guilty to criminal damage and were this week handed suspended prison sentences.
Gardiner, of Burslem, was sentenced to 10 months behind bars, suspended for 18 months, while Morris, also of Burslem, landed 13 months in jail, suspended for 18 months.
They must both also pay £2,000 compensation to the victim and complete 20 hours of rehabilitation activity requirement.
And they will each be electronically monitored to ensure they do not leave home between 9pm and 6am on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays for 26 weeks.