NEIGHBOUR STALKED CO-OP WORKER FOR MONTHS AFTER BEING BARRED
Mandy Birch, aged 55, claimed she had armed herself with a knife and intended to murder a neighbour in her street.During a call to Victims Gateway, she expressed her intention to take violent action against the neighbour who had broken a window at her home.
At North Staffordshire Justice Centre, it was also revealed that she had stalked the manager of the Fenton Co-op store for seven months after being barred from the premises.
Birch threatened to harm him and told him he would 'get it.' She was sentenced to a 10-week prison term, suspended for a year.
Prosecutor Lee Stone explained that Victims Gateway contacted police on January 31, 2023, after receiving a call from Birch.
She complained about police inaction regarding her neighbour, who had damaged her window a week earlier.
Birch explicitly said she planned to murder the neighbour, stating she already possessed a knife and would do so if she saw him.
The call taker believed Birch's threats indicated she was serious about carrying them out.
Between January and June 2023, Birch followed the Co-op manager, who had banned her from the Christchurch Street store.
He first noticed her on January 18, 2023, when she mouthed, 'I will do you in,' at him.
Shortly after, she shouted, 'I am off bail now.
I am going to do you in.' On January 19, she tracked him after work, and he felt threatened and intimidated as she shouted at him.
On February 25, 2023, Birch threatened the man during his work, saying, 'You are going to get it.' Threats persisted on June 3, 2023, when she told him, 'I will see you in court.
I will get you.
You are going to get it.' Further aggressive encounters occurred on June 11, when Birch approached him on the street with his partner and child, claiming, 'You are going to get it.
You have messed with the wrong person.' She also sat threatening in a doorway and shouted abuse on another occasion, including as late as July 26, 2023.
The victim report detailed seven months of threats and abuse, which caused him to alter his lifestyle.
Birch, residing at Arthur Cotton Court, Hamil Road, Burslem, was convicted of threatening to kill and stalking.
She also admitted to failing to surrender to authorities.
In mitigation, Andrew Turnock stated Birch has not committed any offences since 2023 and has voluntarily engaged with drug treatment services.
He explained that her neighbour's antisocial behavior and the Co-op manager's ban contributed to her actions, with the latter having insulted her, which initiated her retaliatory behavior.
Birch had since been relocated and no longer resides near the Fenton Co-op, He emphasised her ongoing efforts to stay law-abiding and her honesty about still using drugs, which she is addressing through services.
As part of her suspended sentence, Birch must complete a six-month drug rehabilitation program and undertake 20 days of rehabilitation activities.
A restraining order prohibits her from contacting the Co-op worker for 12 months.
She was also ordered to pay him £100 in compensation, with no costs awarded.
