Karina Thompson had thrown away a ‘golden opportunity’ to avoid prison
A heavy-drinking woman who once tried to “nut” a policewoman during violent scenes at Hull Royal Infirmary has been jailed again after throwing away a “golden opportunity” to avoid prison. Long-standing alcoholic Karina Thompson assaulted a member of staff at a store during a bungled thieving mission and she had made virtually no effort to comply with a community order and cooperate with the probation service after previously being spared prison, Hull Crown Court heard.
Thompson, 44, of Hull, but recently of no fixed address and remanded in custody, admitted offences of assault and shop theft on July 15. She was in breach of a community order imposed on July 13 for burglary.
Molly Minter, prosecuting, said that Thompson went to a Budgens store in Anlaby Road, west Hull, but was recognised by a shop assistant, who saw her put a can of cider into her coat before trying to pay for another can. It was taken off her. She refused to pay for the other hidden can and began to drink it.
The manager was alerted and he stood in the entrance of the store to prevent Thompson leaving. She pushed him with both hands and he moved away from the door to avoid being hit.
Thompson had convictions for offences of violence, including assaulting an emergency worker in October 2021. Her offences also included arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered, and she had been jailed for that in 2007 for eight months. She also had two offences of child cruelty in 2018. Thompson was given a community order on July 13 this year for an offence of burglary committed on October 11 last year, when she brazenly entered the home of a 76-year-old woman, took the keys from the door and made herself at home by taking her shoes off and sitting in the living room while under the influence of drugs. She “started to sort her hair out” but she was escorted out by the woman without any issues.
A probation officer told the court that Thompson had attended only one appointment. “At least 10 have been offered to her but she is just not engaging with anyone,” said the probation officer.
“She admitted herself that she has been an alcoholic for about 17 years.” Thompson told the court: “I’m sorry. I will sort my life out.”
Michael Masson, mitigating, said that Thompson was the first to admit that she was still grappling with an alcohol problem. “A number of agencies have attempted to help her,” said Mr Masson.
“She feels that she has hit something of a low point and she is focussed on amending her ways. It is not only a missed opportunity but she feels that she has let the court down.
“Somewhere along the line, she has fallen back into old habits. She is remorseful and she is, at this stage, keen to set her life back on the straight and narrow. If a suspended sentence were imposed, it would be hanging over her like the proverbial Damoclean sword and she asks for one last chance.”
Judge Mark Bury said: “She was given a golden opportunity and she has blown it.” Thompson had “spurned” the efforts that had been made to help her and, if everybody got chances like this but did not take them, there would be no point passing such sentences.
“The only sentence that can be imposed is a sentence of immediate imprisonment,” said Judge Bury. “Regard this as a warning. If you commit further offences, you will go back to prison.” Thompson was jailed for six months.
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In November 2021, Thompson was jailed for 21 months after she admitted assaulting a policewoman as an emergency worker on October 7 of that year. She also admitted breaching a community order imposed on May 19, 2021 for theft.
The court heard that day that police were called to a report that Thompson had been the victim of an assault in Belmont Street, Hull, by being pushed out of a stationary car.
She was taken to Hull Royal Infirmary and claimed that she had taken 45 tablets and needed a bed for the night and just wanted to lie down.
She lay down on a sofa and was asked by a paramedic to leave. Thompson kept saying that she wanted to lie down and, suddenly, she very aggressively threw a hospital chair towards police. It did not hit them.
She was told to calm down but she began to try to hit her head on the walls of the hospital. Police tried to keep a firm hold of her as she kept trying to hit her head on the wall.
Thompson swung her head backwards and forwards and it hit the hand that an officer had put against a wall in a bid to stop her hurting herself. She told the policewoman: “I’m sorry. I tried to nut you on purpose.”
In a separate incident, Thompson walked in to the home of a retired disabled man, who used a wheelchair, on October 24, 2020. He had previously loaned her money and he shouted at her to leave. She broke free and left and he realised that she had taken his bank card and two £10 notes.