Laughter earns woman a bigger fine

9:17am Tuesday 22nd July 2008

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A woman who threw a punch in a fight which involved 15 people was given a bigger fine by magistrates after she laughed in the dock.

Prosecutor Jackie Morgan-Smith told Richmond Magistrates' Court police were called to the brawl in Grosvenor Road, Twickenham, on May 18, following a number of calls that people were seen and heard to be fighting.

Samantha Rackley, 24, from Summerwood Road, Isleworth, and Simon Hodgson, 19, from Poplar Road, Ashford, both pleaded guilty to breaching public order at court yesterday.

Ms Morgan-Smith said: "Miss Rackley was seen to punch someone at the scene. Mr Hodgson tried to grab PC Ripley. He had clenched fists and tried to square up to officers."

In mitigation Maura Lynch said: "Mr Hodgson knows this is a really very undignified incidence. He knows people from both sides of the opposing parties in the fight and he tried to intervene. He is a small man in stature and was not very successful."

She told the court that Hodgson had an interview shortly to join the Royal navy and feared a conviction could affect his application.

Presiding magistrate Tim Rayment told Hodgson: "We accept what we have been told that you went to break up the scuffle. You did not succeed and ended up breaking the law and being here today. We wish you success with your application to the navy and that this record does not stand in your way."

Hodgson was given a conditional discharge for 12 months while Rackley, who had a number of previous convictions, was fined £185. She was told it would have been less if she had not been seen laughing in the dock.