Police officers were left fearing for their safety after a scheming woman with a history of carrying blades dropped two knives – one of them with a sinister message saying “Kill police” – outside a police station. Another chilling message said “Kill you” and the discovery of the potentially lethal knives led to an immediate review of safety being carried out by the police, Hull Crown Court heard.
Bethany Docwra, 32, of Axminster Close, Bransholme, Hull, but recently in custody on remand, admitted possessing a razor blade on April 1 this year, two offences of possessing a knife and another of harassment on May 7 this year. She also admitted shop theft on July 2 last year
Amber Hobson, prosecuting, said that Docwra was spotted in the Hessle area and police were alerted by a member of the public who was concerned about her behaviour. She was found behind bushes and had a razor blade with her.
In another incident, she walked to Barton police station. She had a pillow case containing two knives and she leaned over a wall and dropped the knives onto grass. The knives had messages “Kill you” and “Kill police” on them.
There was a “credible concern for the safety of officers” among staff at the police station. A review of security there was carried out.
In an earlier theft offence, Docwra stole figurines, valued at £60, from a shop in Princes Quay shopping centre, Hull, after working out where the blind spot was in CCTV cameras. She was identified, however, from pictures anyway.
Docwra had convictions for 54 previous offences, including several for possessing blades and another for causing a public nuisance. She was in breach of a one-year suspended prison sentence imposed on March 3 last year for assault causing actual bodily harm and also breached a six-month suspended sentence made on July 7.
Jane Rapin, mitigating, said that Docwra had been responding well to the structure and routine provided by being in custody for 73 days. “She is keen to return to the community and rehabilitate her life,” said Miss Rapin.
Docwra had made “significant steps” in her progress. “She has struggled to maintain structure since she lost her employment,” said Miss Rapin.
Docwra was jailed for three years. The two suspended sentences were activated as part of the prison term.
At a hearing in March last year, the court was told that Docwra had a grudge against a bus company and recklessly hurled a brick through the window of a coach – hitting a female passenger on her head – in a nasty “revenge attack”.
She used to work for the company but she had been banned from travelling on its buses. She was left fuming after a driver recognised her and refused to allow her onto his bus.
She later saw the same bus again and threw a brick straight through a window, hitting the woman, the court was told that day.
At that hearing, Docwra admitted offences of assaulting a bus passenger, causing actual bodily harm, and causing criminal damage on July 6 last year. The court heard
that a Stagecoach bus driver was driving in Hull at 4.20pm when he saw and recognised Docwra as an ex-employee of the company who had been banned from its buses.
He recognised her from notices and images of her that had been circulated. He stopped to let other passengers off and he told her that she was not allowed on the bus because she was banned.
He tried to drive away but Docwra pressed a button on the bus. At 5.25pm, the same driver was heading along the road near Kingswood Academy when he recognised Docwra walking her dog.
He heard a loud smash and screaming from passengers. He stopped the bus immediately. A female passenger had been hit by a full-sized house brick that Docwra had thrown through a window.
She was bleeding heavily from a cut on the front of her head. Skin was missing. The brick was on a seat next to her. The wound was glued.
The woman suffered headaches and dizzy spells and she had to take time off work. The damage to the bus window was estimated at £405.
Docwra had, that day, been given a one-year suspended prison sentence, 100 hours’ unpaid work, a six-month monitoring order and 15 days’ rehabilitation.
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