04 Dec Court sees woman with 63 convictions get away with just a £100 fine
A woman with 63 previous convictions has been fined £100 for being drunk and disorderly.
Francesca Bibi pleaded guilty at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday to being drunk and disorderly in a public place under the Criminal Justice Act 1967.
Bibi, aged 59 of Fermain Court, Dalston, was reportedly seen swearing and shouting at members of the public at Bishopsgate in the City of London on the morning of Tuesday 1stOctober.
Police officers were called to the scene where Bibi was given the chance to leave the area. However, she continued shouting and was arrested and subsequently charged.
Bibi had no legal representation. When questioned by one the magistrates as to why she thought she was arrested, speaking in her defence she said ‘I was loud but I didn’t hurt anyone and I have recently been diagnosed as partially sighted and it’s been making me depressed. I am getting help and I have now got a support worker’.
Bibi has previously been arrested 107 times and convicted 63 times, 15 of them being public disorder offences. She already owes the court money which is being paid by her daughter due to her ongoing unemployment.
She was advised to seek help for her obvious alcohol abuse issues. The magistrate told Bibi ‘you really need to get help because we really do not want you coming back to court’.
The case was settled at a £100 fine with no victim surcharge due to her previous overnight stay in custody.
