A woman has been sentenced to 10 weeks imprisonment after exposing herself twice at a Tesco store in a ‘bizarre’ rampage.
Elizabeth Finneran, 47, had refused to leave the store in Bury after being asked by the staff due to her behaviour.
As she was being escorted to the front of the store she picked up three bottles of wine and smashed them on the floor, Manchester Magistrates Court was told.
Finneran, of Bury, then pulled down her trousers and exposed herself to the security guard.
After trying to remove her from the store, she then grabbed hold of a shopping basket and hit the officer with it, it was said.
She was then locked out of the store before she dropped her trousers again and exposed her bottom to customers inside.
Previously pleading guilty on an earlier occasion to causing a public nuisance, criminal damage and common assault, Finneran today failed to attend for her sentencing hearing and a warrant has been issued for her arrest.
Outlining the facts, prosecutor Richard Blackburn said Finneran attended the Tesco store in Bury on July 2 this year, but due to her behaviour she was asked to leave and refused to do so.
“The security officer and manager stood in the alcohol aisle as the defendant was being escorted to the front of the store, she picked up three bottles of wine and smashed them on the floor - two bottles did break,” Mr Blackburn said.
“The defendant then walked to the front of the store and again was asked to leave.
“She pulled down her trousers and parted her buttocks in front of the security officer.
“He went back into the store and told the other customers what she was doing to forewarn them.
“She followed him with her trousers round her ankles.”
The court was told that Finneran then exposed her genitals before the security officer tried to remove her from the store.
It was then that she grabbed a metal shopping basket and bashed it into him, making contact with his hand.
Mr Blackburn continued: “She was forced out of the store and the doors were locked to prevent her from coming back in.
“She then took her trousers down again and pushed her bottom against the window to expose herself to the customers.”
Finneran was said to have previous convictions including criminal damage in May this year and offences of theft and common assault in June 2019, for which she received a community order.
In mitigation, her defence lawyer Stephen Connor asked the court to issue a warrant in order for a presentence report to be prepared by the probation service.
It had previously been said that Finneran had failed to turn up for her interview with probation in regards to completing a report.
“If a warrant could be done then the court could have the power to remand her in custody to enable a report to be prepared,” Mr Connor said.
“From the very early stages of the proceedings she admitted she was pregnant and was displaying symptoms of early stage pregnancy.
“I am not sure if that’s the case now - I don’t have a mobile phone number for her.
“These offences are so bizarre that there must be underlying issues, potentially mental health issues.
“If there are underlying issues that are mental health issues or substance misuse issues, if she is pregnant, maybe it would be best for her to be arrested and allow probation to see her.
“It’s quite clear there are underlying issues.
However, sentencing in her absence, District Judge Bernard Begley said: “At the point of the case being adjourned she was told if she did not cooperate with the preparation of a report, and equally she was told if she failed to attend, it’s an offence in itself and she will be sentenced in her absence.
“Taking into account the circumstances of offending and balancing that against the fact that she has committed offences of exactly the same nature as in June last year, and that she has failed to surrender to her bail in relation to these proceedings - I see no reason not to proceed to sentence.”
Finneran, of Broad Oak Road, was sentenced to 10 weeks imprisonment, ordered to pay £25 compensation to Tesco, £50 compensation to the security officer and £85 court costs.
A warrant has been issued for her arrest.
