Knife-wielding mother escapes custodial sentence

A Thame woman who brandished knives at members of the public at Thame fair in September, has avoided prison after admitting having a bladed article in a public place .

Lavinia Ryan, 43, of Van Diemans Road, Thame, was said in court on Friday (22/11) to be “irrationally convinced” that her 12 year-old son had been kidnapped, and had threatened one stallholder that there would be “carnage” unless the boy was returned to her within an hour. Prosecuting, Ms Catherine Olliver described how Lavinia Ryan had walked through the fair with four knifes in each hand, and a meat cleaver, threatening fair ground operatives. She injured her head and hand during the ensuing struggle with security guards. Her son had in fact been playing with a friend.

Timothy Boswell, defending, told the Judge, Ian Pringle, that his client suffered from a personality disorder which was controllable with medication, and that because of her mental health problems, being sent to prison could increase Ryan’s violent behaviour.

A six months prison sentence was suspended for two years, with activity and supervision requirements attached, as well as an £80 victims’ surcharge.

More