Skip to content

Sanctioned For Being In A Coma- So She Stole Scrap Metal

April 11, 2016

 

A woman whose benefits were sanctioned while she was in a life threatening coma claims she had to resort to stealing scrap metal when released from hospital – because she had no money to survive. 

She is just one of thousands needlessly persecuted under the government’s vicious sanctions regime, even after the parliamentary work and pensions committee labelled them “unfair and punitive” and called for an independent review into their usage.

 

Lisa Hartley, 46, appeared in front of Hull Magistrates’ Court after being caught stealing copper pipe, door handles and a letter box from a derelict council house in the city on March 7.

 

Hartley, who woke from the coma despite doctors not expecting her to live, told the police at the scene she stole the metal because she “needed a bit of money.”

 

Solicitor Ed Cunnah, who was defending Hartley, said, “I’m sure you have seen details of the sad situation that led to her losing her benefits for a couple of months.

 

“I’m absolutely shocked someone who was in a coma in hospital, and was not expected to survive, lost their benefits for nine weeks through no fault of their own.”

 

After ordering Hartley to pay £85 costs and a £15 surcharge, chairman of the bench, Steven Larard, said to Cunnah, “We are quite surprised this matter came to court.

“I would have thought this could have been dealt with by a police warning or caution.”

7 Comments leave one →
  1. sdbast's avatar
    sdbast permalink
    April 11, 2016 4:56 pm

    Reblogged this on sdbast.

    Like

  2. hugosmum70's avatar
    April 11, 2016 5:26 pm

    THE JUDGE SAID HE WAS SURPRISED IT HAD EVEN COME TO COURT YET STILL FINED THE POOR WOMAN PLUS SHE HAD TO PAY COURT COSTS TOO? I FIND THAT A CASE OF DOUBLE STANDARDS., DOESNT ANYONE ELSE?

    Like

    • Tess's avatar
      April 11, 2016 5:52 pm

      Yes I had to read it again. She stole from a derelict house & got fined, the reason she did it was because she had no money plus the fact that the house is empty!!so where do they think she is going to find the money to pay the fine?

      Like

  3. argotina1's avatar
    April 11, 2016 5:45 pm

    Reblogged this on Benefit tales.

    Like

  4. L8in's avatar
    l8in permalink
    April 11, 2016 5:48 pm

    Reblogged this on L8in.

    Like

  5. Tess's avatar
    April 11, 2016 5:53 pm

    Reblogged this on campertess.

    Like

  6. jaypot2012's avatar
    jaypot2012 permalink
    April 11, 2016 6:38 pm

    *Rolls eyes* at the police and the court officials. If she has that fine and costs to pay she’ll need to go and strip more than copper from a derelict house then…

    Like

Leave a reply to argotina1 Cancel reply