A 73-YEAR-OLD has been given a suspended prison term for subjecting a woman in her 80s to a three-year harassment campaign.
Lilian Kirk pleaded guilty to sending illicit cards, which featured images of naked people, along with abusive, hand-written notes to Eileen Ward, the 83-year-old mother of Kirk’s ex-partner.
Barnsley Magistrates’ Court was told Kirk, of Waltham Street, Barnsley, had been told about Mrs Ward’s alleged poor treatment of her son, who was not named, which prompted her to retaliate.
The Crown Prosecution Service said Kirk’s offending, which spanned a period from June 2014 to November 2017, was sporadic and the sender’s identity was only discovered when the police conducted a DNA test on the cards, which matched Kirk’s.
A victim statement read out on behalf of Mrs Ward said: “They were awful and upsetting to receive - I am 83 and should not have to put up with it. I have tears in my eyes every single time I think about it.
“I dread when the post arrives because clearly the person responsible knows my address.”
The court was told between 25 and 30 cards were sent during the three-year spell, although Kirk claimed she was not aware of a specific number.
Eric Bray, defending, said: “The complainant and the defendant have actually never met - it’s a bizarre case that’s difficult to get to the bottom of. To this day she has no real reason as to why she sent the cards.
“They were joke-style cards, featuring men and women in a state of undress, but they had unpleasant words on the inside. She accepts she caused upset but I have totally failed to understand the rationale behind it.
“Miss Kirk has suffered considerable upset during the period as two of her sons died. She remains very upset about this, but also about what she has done to the complainant. She apologised for her behaviour to the police and repeated those to me, so she is genuine when she says she is deeply sorry.”
Kirk was given an eight-week sentence, suspended for 12 months, and told to adhere to an ‘indefinite’ restraining order to prevent any contact with Mrs Ward. She was also told to pay court costs of £85 and a £115 victim surcharge.
