Reading Magistrates' Court: Newbury addict amazes court by turning life around

A WOMAN battling multiple addictions has amazed magistrates by turning her life around.

She has also become an inspiration to others, who she encourages to seek help like her.

The extraordinary success story unfolded during an apparently routine sentencing for assault.

In the dock at Reading Magistrates' Court on Thursday, August 11, was Hannah Gillett.

The 41-year-old admitted assaulting her partner, Ashley Smith, by beating him in Newbury on November 20 last year.

Ms Gillett denied a more serious charge of assault causing actual bodily harm and, in light of her plea to the lesser charge, this was accepted by the prosecution.

The court heard she had flung an object at Mr Smith's head, causing a cut to his scalp during a row at the Two Saints hostel in Newtown Road, Newbury, where they both lived.

Ms Gillett also has numerous previous convictions resulting from her addiction to alcohol and drugs, and has been jailed for offences including battery, magistrates were told.

Jo Benn, defending, said that when her client and her partner first moved to Newbury they found themselves "surrounded by other drug users and by negative influences".

She added: "She has been coming before the courts for a number of years now, for offences stemming from her drug and alcohol addictions."

But Ms Gillett had finally hit rock bottom and had decided to turn her back on that lifestyle, the court heard.

Ms Benn said: "Her offender manager gave her one of the best reports I've seen in a long time – if ever.

"It's simply the most glowing endorsement of someone trying to turn their life around.

"Both she and her partner are aiming at being clean and sober and to be free from all the negative influences around them; their prescriptions have just been reduced even further."

Indeed, the court heard, Ms Gillett was considered such a success story that she had been asked to give talks and was helping to steer others towards sobriety by encouraging them to engage with the programmes available.

Magistrates remarked they had never seen such positive pre-sentence reports.

One magistrate told her: "I've never seen a report like this before.

"You've been doing amazing work and you should be proud of yourself; you really should."

The bench took an unusual sentencing course, making Ms Gillett subject to a two-year conditional discharge.

No order was made for costs because of Ms Gillett's current lack of means to pay.

However she was ordered to pay a statutory victim services surcharge of £22.

As she left the dock Ms Gillett turned to magistrates and remarked: "I just wanted to say that the probation service has saved my life.

"Thank you.

"You won't see me here again."