A persistent pest is back behind bars after stalking her own mum before being caught with a blade for the 16th time.
As previously reported on ChronicleLive, Elizabeth Atkinson has bombarded Northumbria Police with nuisance calls for a number of years, but her long-suffering mother had always stood by her. The 28-year-old has also repeatedly been caught with a blade or a weapon in public and has served numerous prison sentences as a result.
However, this year, the serial crook's attention turned to her mother and she was convicted of harassing just last week. Undeterred and despite being on police bail, which prohibited her from contacting the victim, Atkinson continued to call her and leave voicemail messages, a court was told.
But her behaviour culminated on March 28 when she dialled 999 and told police she was armed with blades, intended to go to her mother's home and "would harm whoever got in her way". Atkinson also let slip that she was at Etal Lane Bridge, which was where police found her soon after.
Atkinson was taken to hospital and proved she hadn't been lying when claiming to be armed as razor blades were discovered down her bra. She has previous convictions for having blades hidden in the same place.
Atkinson, formerly of Kingston Park but now living on Denmark Street, in Byker, has now been warned she faces a jail sentence after she appeared at Newcastle Magistrates' Court in custody to plead guilty to a malicious communications offence, stalking and possession of a bladed article.
Bushra Begum, prosecuting, said Atkinson had been given a conditional discharge for harassing her mother on March 24 and was on police bail with conditions not to contact her three days later on March 27 when she phoned her from a friend's mobile. The victim initially answered but hung up when she recognised the voice.
Ms Begum said Atkinson called her mum a further four times and left three voicemail messages, with one saying "Shall I come to the house? I miss you". Atkinson also messaged one of her mother's friends on Facebook in another bid to contact her.
However, on March 28, things took a more sinister turn. Ms Begum continued: "The police received a phone call from the defendant saying that she had taken drugs and alcohol and was in possession of blades and had the intention of attending her mother's address and warned police that they should go to her mother's address because she was going to go there to sort things out.
"She repeats that she has blades in her possession and would harm whoever got in her way and that the police needed to go to her mother's address. She also repeats that she's aware that she shouldn't be at the address. She also tells police that, if she isn't at her mother's, she'll be on Etal Lane Bridge and may harm herself."
Officers attended both the victim's home and Etal Lane Bridge and found Atkinson at the latter. The court heard that, because she'd claimed to have taken drugs and alcohol, she was transported to hospital. Ms Begum said that Atkinson again repeated that she was carrying blades and razor blades were found in her bra.
In a statement, the victim said she was the only person who had supported Atkinson in the past but she now felt fearful and betrayed by her behaviour. She added: "These ongoing issues are causing me so much upset and distress. I'm shocked by my daughter's actions. The impact these actions are having on my family are straining. I have cried all week."
The court heard that Atkinson had 50 offences on her record, including 15 for possession of bladed articles or weapons and eight communications offences, most involving nuisance calls to the police. She was last convicted of having a blade in October last year, when she was jailed for 12 weeks.
Her last conviction was just days earlier, on March 24, when she was given a conditional discharge for harassing her mother.
Jonathan Pigford, defending, said Atkinson had numerous mental health issues and would benefit from a report being prepared by the Probation Service. Magistrates adjourned the case until April 18 for that to take place and remanded Atkinson in custody in the meantime.
Read More
Hapless coat thief caught by police carrying stolen TK Maxx goods down street in Walker
Racist yob shouted 'appalling' abuse about Northumberland takeaway workers
Trio in court accused of dealing cocaine in Byker and Walker
Disgruntled Cramlington man fined for repeatedly throwing dog poo into neighbour's garden
The brutes jailed for vicious attacks on women in the North East
