In a staggering courtroom outburst, a judge accused a mother of conceiving to sidestep a prison sentence amidst a contraception tirade.
Tanya Parker found herself entangled in her husband David Bradley’s illicit activities when she was caught smuggling steroids, phones, and tobacco into HMP Birmingham during 2019. The Coventry-based couple, already parents to four, appeared before Birmingham Crown Court on June 26, expecting to learn their fate, with custody almost a certainty.
However barrister Cathlyn Orchard revealed that 36 year old Parker was six to seven weeks pregnant. Judge Dean Kershaw could barely mask his incredulity, exclaiming: “Are you seriously telling me that? Knowing the position these two are in, she’s pregnant again?”.
Taking a sterner tone, he lectured: “She understands there’s something called contraception, having a child knowing the position both of them are in.”
Although Ms Orchard suggested the pregnancy was an ‘unplanned’ incident, and that contraceptive measures are not foolproof, the judge pressed if any were used at all, reports Birmingham Live.
The barrister said: “I haven’t gone into that detail. She is not wanting to be pregnant and she is conflicted in saying that because she is going to keep the child. It couldn’t have come at a worse time.”
This led Judge Kershaw to remark skeptically: “It all smacks to me it is another thing she is mentioning to avoid custody.
“It maybe regrettable but let’s apply common sense.”
After a brief exchange with Parker in the dock, Ms Orchard informed the court: “She wasn’t taking the pill and doesn’t know why.
“It wasn’t to try and get pregnant or to manipulate.”
In response, Judge Kershaw questioned: “What did she possibly think – having had children – happens?”.
“That some angel would come down and stop her getting pregnant?”.
“It looks to me she is trying in some way to manipulate the process thinking this will be extra mitigation. It won’t. It won’t work with me.”
He continued by highlighting the multiple falsehoods Parker had spread regarding her part in the prison contraband scheme and dismissed the excuse that her dishonesty stemmed from ‘panic’.
Judge Kershaw clarified he has no intention of instructing individuals on how to conduct their private, personal or sexual affairs; however, he remarked: “I am utterly shocked someone in her position could have allowed herself to be in that position she is in now.”
Ms Orchard furthered that Parker had faced ‘enormous pressure’ and found herself in an ‘impossible situation’ due to Bradley, who had been her partner since she was 16.
At the time, Bradley was detained on remand for numerous domestic and commercial burglaries, which entailed forcibly removing ATM machines from buildings.
Bradley subsequently received extensive prison sentences.
Judge Kershaw delivered a scathing remark on Parker’s life decisions during sentencing, commenting: “It’s not for me to comment but you were in a relationship with someone you knew who was a man who had chosen in 2018 to go into people’s homes and steal.
“You have chosen that’s someone you want to be with and you have children.”
He further stated: “You chose your relationship over the safety of the prison. That’s the reality of what happened.”
Despite his criticism, Judge Kershaw ultimately refrained from imprisoning Parker, persuaded that ‘the public do not need protection from you’.
Parker, having pled guilty to two charges of conspiring to smuggle forbidden items into prison, was meted out an 18-month community sentence coupled with 100 hours of unpaid work and a 30-day rehabilitation programme.
In Bradley’s case, aged 34, Judge Kershaw condemned the exploitation of his partner’s loyalty but acknowledged he was the primary instigator behind their scheme.
Still, considering Bradley’s prior lengthy incarceration and his constructive behaviour post-release in October, the judge handed down a 24-month sentence suspended for 18 months.
Bradley, confessing to the same offences as Parker plus an additional charge for possessing a phone while incarcerated, must complete 160 hours of unpaid labour alongside a 30-day rehabilitative stint.
The duo relied on the corrupt services of prison guard Christopher Lawley for the physical transfer of illicit goods into HMP Birmingham.
The 43 year old resident of Bexley Grove, West Bromwich pleaded guilty to three counts of conveying or conspiring to convey prohibited items into prison.
He was handed a sentence of two years and two months at a hearing in May this year.