Warrant issued for woman's arrest after court 'no-show'

The case against Nicola Brown, of Meadowstreet Close, Thatcham, has been ongoing since June last year - yet she has never once attended any hearings to enter a plea.
The court was told, during the latest hearing on Thursday, January 16, that warrants had twice been issued for her arrest but that police had failed to take her into custody as required because she had produced medical documents.
Magistrates heard that the current hearing was the eighth time the case had been listed and that the 44-year-old had failed to turn up yet again.
Alison Beynon, prosecuting on behalf of West Berkshire Council, said: “It’s now getting out of hand. Now she is citing a new medical condition.”
The court was told that a leg ulcer had supposedly prevented Ms Brown from attending court in the past - although she had been able to attend her solicitors’ office several times.
Repeated notes from her GP said her condition had rendered her unable to attend.
Ms Beynon said: “Two warrants were issued but she produced more medical certificates raising further health issues, so she was never arrested by police.
“We contacted her GP to ask why this lady wasn’t able to attend court and we were told that her leg ulcer would no longer prevent her attending court from January 13 onwards.”
However, the court heard, Ms Brown had now submitted a new medical certificate stating she can now not attend court due to a condition called “adjustment reaction.”
Presiding magistrate Sue Campbell said: “As far as we’re concerned, that’s not a medical definition that makes any sense. “We also note that these offences date back to 2009.”
Mike Davis, defending, confirmed that the charges related to £15,000 in alleged overpayment of benefits and said: “I can’t help as to exactly what her condition is in practice.”
He said the current medical certificate said she would be unfit to attend for yet another four weeks.
Nevetheless magistrates issued a third warrant for Ms Brown’s immediate arrest.