Warrant issued as woman left courtroom

Sarah Hawkins leftcourt after swearing and telling the bench: “Send me to prison.”

Hawkins, 25, of Cookson Road, Thornton, previously pleaded guilty to possessing a knife in the resort’s Blackpool Road area.

Defence lawyer, Jessica Partington, told magistrates a psychiatric report on Hawkins had concluded she suffered from learning disabilities. Hawkins started to laugh as magistrates began discussing bail conditions. Magistrates said they wanted her to engage with the learning disabilities, forensic outreach and social services teams. But Hawkins left and refused numerous attempts to persuade her to return.

A warrant without bail was then issued for her arrest.