An absurd dispute’� in Exmouth

Two people from Exmouth ended up in court after a woman boasted that she had stolen �5 from a birthday card to see who was gossiping.

Two people from Exmouth ended up in court after a woman boasted that she had stolen �5 from a birthday card 'to see who was gossiping.'

At Exeter Crown Court Judge Philip Wassall described the actions of the woman who claimed to have taken the cash as 'a mind boggling thing to do.'

The judge said the whole episode was an 'absurd dispute' and said that everyone involved 'needed to grow up.'

The court heard the woman had not actually taken the card and money but it was believed she had and the result was a public disorder with one pregnant woman being pushed over and serious verbal threats being made by some of those involved.

The result was that 26-year-old Wayne Messenger, of Highview Gardens, Exmouth and 25-year-old Kirsty Edwards of Village Close, Exmouth, being hauled before the court, admitting section four public order offences.

Judge Wassall said he wanted to make a drug rehabilitation requirement in Messenger's case but he was not prepared to undergo that for fear that he might fail.

So he was given a four-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, coupled with a two-year supervision order.

Edwards was conditionally discharged for two years.

In his scathing attack on all parties involved in the incident Judge Wassall said: "Everyone here should grow up.

"It was an absurd dispute over a birthday card and �5 and the fact that the woman who claimed to have stolen it said she had done it to see who was gossiping was mind boggling.