Mum who bought credit for violent boyfriend's prison phone let off unpaid work

A violent criminal’s girlfriend who bought credit for his illegal mobile phone has been let off doing her unpaid work because she has nobody to look after her young son.

Single mum Beth Crocker, aged 22, purchased mobile phone top-up vouchers while he was in Exeter Prison, a court heard.

Joseph Pines, now serving a 16-year term for a serious assault, used the phone to threaten a witness giving evidence against him.

Crocker avoided a jail sentence herself after Plymouth Crown Court heard she was a single mum – because her new partner was also in custody.

She was given unpaid work but was dragged back to court two months later for not doing her hours.

Crocker admitted breaching the order and was handed more unpaid work.

Now she has been brought back before a judge again for not completing the hours.

But the breach was not put at the invitation of her barrister Ali Rafati.

He said: “Her problem is that she is sole carer of a three-year-old boy who is at this stage attending nursery for two and a half days a week.

“She has been unable to attend her appointments because she has nobody to look after him.”

Mr Rafati said the defendant’s parents had mental health problems.

He suggested that the judge impose a curfew instead.

Recorder Paul Garlick said: “I will take an unusual course in this case, as it is clear you do have extreme childcare difficulties.”

He scrapped the 12-month community order imposed in May and gave Crocker an electronically-monitored curfew instead.

She must stay indoors between 8pm and 6am every night until September 23.

Crocker is due to go on a week’s holiday a couple of days later.

Crocker, of North Street, Greenbank, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting a prisoner to transmit an electronic image or sound between December 2017 and January 2018.

The court heard back in May that she was in a relationship with Pines in December 2017.

He was remanded into custody that month at HMP Exeter charged with an offence of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Crocker bought mobile phone to-up vouchers in Plymouth which were used to top up his illegal prison phone.

Pines used the phone to threaten a witness.

Pines was jailed for 16 years in June last year for the GBH, witness intimidation and having a phone.

It is not known how the mobile got into the prison.