Larne woman sent abusive voice messages and then told police: "I'm homophobic, I can't help it'
A Larne woman who sent abusive voice messages on Facebook Messenger told police: "I'm homophobic, I can't help it".
Alana Campbell (42), of Fanad Drive, admitted a charge of persistently making use of a public electronic communications network on March 30 this year 'for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety'. She also pleaded guilty to possessing pregabalin.
A prosecutor said that the defendant directed a stream of verbal abuse at her brother which he reported as a "hate crime".
When police had gone to the defendant's address, pregabalin was found.
When interviewed Campbell told police that she had sent the messages, adding: "I'm homophobic, I can't help it."
A defence barrister said that the messages were sent after there had been a "disagreement" between the defendant and her brother.
District Judge Nigel Broderick said the incident before the court was aggravated by domestic abuse and being a "hate crime".
He said Campbell "made totally abhorrent homophobic comments" to her brother and there was every reason that she should go to prison as she was in breach of a suspended sentence.
A pre-sentence report, the judge added, said the defendant has had a "very difficult life". Sentencing was deferred for a year until next May.
At Ballymena Magistrates Court on Thursday (May 7), Judge Broderick told the defendant that if she keeps out of trouble between now and then she will avoid jail but if she re-offends "there is a very high likelihood you will go to prison".