The catalogue of abuse – which left the victim ‘screaming in terror’ – went on for years
A callous and bullying woman subjected her terrified elderly mother-in-law to a “horrendous” and long-running “catalogue of abuse” and “countless acts of aggression” for several years. Vindictive and cruel Sandra Davis made “extreme threats” to the helpless pensioner – including that she would kill her – and left her “screaming in extreme terror” during nasty confrontations in the victim’s home.
But she was finally caught after the victim’s daughter gave the pensioner a recording machine to use secretly when the “disgusting and degrading” abuse was being hurled at her, Hull Crown Court heard. Davis, 51, of Southwood Avenue, Cottingham, admitted putting the woman in fear of violence through harassment between January 1, 2016 and March 31, 2022 at Hessle. She originally denied the matter but later pleaded guilty.
Ashley Lambert-Jefferson, prosecuting, said that the harassment of the mother-in-law, now aged 87, took place over a prolonged period of time when the elderly victim was aged between 78 and 84. It was a “three-pronged attack” that included letters, telephone calls and visits to the mother-in-law’s home.
“This is a place where the victim should have felt safe and secure,” said Mr Lambert-Jefferson. The mother-in-law was subjected to “countless acts of aggression” that caused her to fear violence.
The elderly woman confided in her daughter, who bought her a dictation recording machine that she could use to record what Davis was saying. The woman did not hand the recording device back for a couple of years, however, because she was scared about what would happen if Davis found out that she had been recording her.
There were more than 70 recordings and they were handed over to the police. They were “extremely disturbing” and showed “extreme threats” by Davis and the “fear” that the mother-in-law had been caused. “The victim was clearly distressed,” said Mr Lambert-Jefferson. She tried to leave her home but was stopped. “The defendant was being aggressive. The victim wants the defendant to stop treating her like this.”
Davis was heard saying: “Don’t you f***ing dare run away” and “I’m going to kill her. She will be dead in the next 10 minutes.” Mr Lambert-Jefferson told the court: “The victim screams and pleads that she does not want to be frightened.
“The defendant is telling her that she is not going anywhere and is not running away. She follows and humiliates her in the street.”
The woman begged Davis to stop but Davis accused her of being an “utter c***”. The victim asked her several times to stop and said that she just wanted a quiet life.
There were more recordings showing a “catalogue of abuse” against the woman. “They are all of a similar nature, aggressive and shouting,” said Mr Lambert-Jefferson. “The recordings are not overly pleasant to listen to.
“The defendant also sent a catalogue of letters to the victim. Certain words are underlined or in different colours of ink.” The pensioner later said: “When all this started, I was so frightened.
“I was frightened that she was going to kill me. I still think about it all the time. This is part of my life that I should never have gone through. “The things that I used to get called from her will forever be on my mind. There is no reason why I should ever have been treated in this way.”
During police interview, Davis claimed that her mother-in-law made her stressed. “She agreed that the recordings sounded bad,” said Mr Lambert-Jefferson.
“She said that it was in the heat of the moment stuff and she never intended to damage, hurt or kill the victim. She showed no remorse towards the victim and, when asked if she was ever in the wrong, she stated: ‘No’.”
Do you feel safe where you live? You can have your say by completing the poll below or by clicking here.
Rachel Scott, mitigating, said that Davis had shown remorse and she had no previous convictions. “This defendant is absolutely disgusted by her behaviour,” said Miss Scott. Davis had said of the recordings: “They are horrendous. I don’t recognise myself in those.” There were “nasty letters” that were “very, very unpleasant”. Davis had lost her temper over a prolonged period of time.
“This complainant must have been caused a great deal of distress,” said Miss Scott. “It was a persistent act over a prolonged period. She knew that this was really serious as soon as she heard these recordings.
“Rightly or wrongly, she had the feeling that she was being criticised. She was very conscious about being judged. She was drinking heavily and was using alcohol as an emotional crutch.
“She was behaving very out of character. She has demonstrated true remorse. There is clearly a much better side to this lady.”
Recorder Caroline Sellars said that it was a “sustained and disgusting” campaign of harassment in which the victim feared that violence would be used against her. “It can only be described as a horrendous campaign against her,” said Recorder Sellars.
“You targeted her in her own home, which was a place in which she should have felt most safe. You subjected her to threats of violence and used disgusting and degrading language towards her.
“You took out all of your frustration and all of your anger and rage against her. It is clear to this court that there must have been an intention to maximise the fear that she felt.
“The language was, frankly, disgusting. You made her beg for you to stop your behaviour. She was clearly in fear and clearly suffering extreme distress and screaming in extreme terror. That didn’t stop you. “In interview, you were defiant and did not accept that you were in the wrong. Your victim was elderly and vulnerable. She sometimes sat in her car to avoid you. You described the recordings yourself as horrendous.”
Davis was given a 21-month suspended prison sentence and 25 days’ rehabilitation. She was given an indefinite restraining order.