01 August 2012
False Robbery Claim Leads to Court for Teenage
Girls
Two teenage girls who went out onto the
streets of Luton to buy cannabis ended up concocting a story that
they had been the victims of a knifepoint robbery.
As a result, two other young women ended up
being arrested and held in custody.
On Tues 31 July the teenagers, Charlotte
Kerr, 18 and her friend Emma-Jane Holmes, 19, appeared at Luton
crown court to each admit a charge of perverting the course of
justice.
The court heard it was in the early hours
of Wednesday 2 May this year that Kerr, of Elmtree Avenue,
Cockernhoe and Holmes, of Mulberry Close in Luton, decided to go
out in the town and buy cannabis.
They found themselves in Dallow Road, Luton
and approached another woman they thought would be able to supply
them with the drug.
After handing her £30, she walked off and
the pair found themselves with no cannabis and no money.
Robert Colover prosecuting said the pair
then decided to ring the police to say they had been the victims of
a knifepoint robbery.
Officers took the call seriously.
Statements were taken from the pair and, as a result, a woman was
arrested on suspicion of robbery.
The court heard she remained in custody for
nine hours.
Judge Michael Kay QC was told a second
woman was picked up by police and spent five hours in custody.
But officers were beginning to get
suspicious and, after questioning Homes again, the truth came
out.
Today the pair stood shame-faced in the
dock as the story of their callous deception was revealed.
Passing sentence, Judge Kay passed a four
month detention term on each, but said he would suspended them for
12 months.
Each was ordered to carry out 150 hours of
unpaid work and pay £250 costs.
In addition they will be subject to a three
month home curfew between the hours of 7pm and 7am.
Please note - All of the court copies are provided
by South Beds News Agency, who retain the copyright© for all
articles published.
