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| Ex-royal harpist drug rehab order | Ex-royal harpist drug rehab order |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The Prince of Wales' former harpist has been given a community order and sent for drug rehabilitation for handling stolen goods and attempted fraud. | The Prince of Wales' former harpist has been given a community order and sent for drug rehabilitation for handling stolen goods and attempted fraud. |
| Jemima Phillips, 28, previously of Ebbw Vale, Blaenau Gwent, but now of St Briavels, Gloucestershire, was hooked on heroin at the time of the offences. | Jemima Phillips, 28, previously of Ebbw Vale, Blaenau Gwent, but now of St Briavels, Gloucestershire, was hooked on heroin at the time of the offences. |
| The Royal College of Music graduate had a "very vulnerable personality", Gloucester Crown Court was told. | |
| She was given a 12-month community order to include drug rehabilitation. | |
| Judge Michael Harington heard that Phillips had made a "complete transformation" after staying clean from drugs for four months. | Judge Michael Harington heard that Phillips had made a "complete transformation" after staying clean from drugs for four months. |
| She was told the community order would also feature a supervision element and a six-month drug rehabilitation requirement. | She was told the community order would also feature a supervision element and a six-month drug rehabilitation requirement. |
| Phillips was cleared of burglary at her trial. | |
| But her ex-boyfriend William Davies, 41, of Cheltenham, who had been found guilty of four burglaries, was jailed for four-and-a-half years. | |
| She had an appalling childhood...a dreadful life coupled with a spectacular talent, but a very weak personality... a very vulnerable personality Paul Grumbar, defending | |
| He carried out the break-ins in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, and some of the proceeds were found stored in Phillips' possession. | He carried out the break-ins in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, and some of the proceeds were found stored in Phillips' possession. |
| She was convicted of handling stolen items taken by Davies. | She was convicted of handling stolen items taken by Davies. |
| Phillips, a former semi-finalist in the BBC's Young Musician of the Year, had also pleaded guilty to using a stolen building society book to try to withdraw £500 from a branch of Nationwide in Monmouth. | Phillips, a former semi-finalist in the BBC's Young Musician of the Year, had also pleaded guilty to using a stolen building society book to try to withdraw £500 from a branch of Nationwide in Monmouth. |
| She said she had agreed to the deception because Davies' friends threatened to expose her drug addiction in the media. | She said she had agreed to the deception because Davies' friends threatened to expose her drug addiction in the media. |
| Jemima Phillips, pictured with Prince Charles in 2004 | Jemima Phillips, pictured with Prince Charles in 2004 |
| During the trial, the jury heard Phillips was struggling with drug dependence when the prince appointed her as his harpist in 2004. | During the trial, the jury heard Phillips was struggling with drug dependence when the prince appointed her as his harpist in 2004. |
| She later played at his wedding to the Duchess of Cornwall. | She later played at his wedding to the Duchess of Cornwall. |
| Prosecutor Simon Burns said on Tuesday that Phillips was of previous good character, whereas Davies had 63 previous convictions for 118 offences, going back to 1983. | Prosecutor Simon Burns said on Tuesday that Phillips was of previous good character, whereas Davies had 63 previous convictions for 118 offences, going back to 1983. |
| Mr Burns also showed the judge pictures showing Phillips' slide into drug abuse. | Mr Burns also showed the judge pictures showing Phillips' slide into drug abuse. |
| Mr Burns said the images revealed "the obvious transformation showing the ravages of drug addiction, crack and heroin - what can only be described as a spectacular fall from grace". | Mr Burns said the images revealed "the obvious transformation showing the ravages of drug addiction, crack and heroin - what can only be described as a spectacular fall from grace". |
| 'Complete transformation' | 'Complete transformation' |
| Paul Grumbar, for Phillips, said her mother had written a letter to the judge stating the "true position" about what she has been doing since her arrest. | Paul Grumbar, for Phillips, said her mother had written a letter to the judge stating the "true position" about what she has been doing since her arrest. |
| "Since her arrest, valiant efforts have been made - there has been a complete transformation," he said. | "Since her arrest, valiant efforts have been made - there has been a complete transformation," he said. |
| William Davies had 63 convictions going back more than 25 years | William Davies had 63 convictions going back more than 25 years |
| "She's been drug-free for over three months - four, I think it is. She's been consulting specialists, attending everything religiously and carrying on working. | "She's been drug-free for over three months - four, I think it is. She's been consulting specialists, attending everything religiously and carrying on working. |
| "This is a very, very vulnerable girl. She had an appalling childhood, abuse, tragedy in her family, the death of her younger brother, the illness her sister suffers from - a dreadful life coupled with a spectacular talent, but a very weak personality and I would submit a very vulnerable personality." | "This is a very, very vulnerable girl. She had an appalling childhood, abuse, tragedy in her family, the death of her younger brother, the illness her sister suffers from - a dreadful life coupled with a spectacular talent, but a very weak personality and I would submit a very vulnerable personality." |
| Steve Young, for Davies, said his client was an "intermittent addict" who was offending to feed his drug habit. | Steve Young, for Davies, said his client was an "intermittent addict" who was offending to feed his drug habit. |
| Crack cocaine | Crack cocaine |
| Phillips was already a drug user when she met Davies, he added. | Phillips was already a drug user when she met Davies, he added. |
| The judge told Phillips: "Before you met William Davies, you were of previous good character. | The judge told Phillips: "Before you met William Davies, you were of previous good character. |
| "It is clear you are an extremely talented musician, but also for the last five years you have been addicted to Class A drugs." | "It is clear you are an extremely talented musician, but also for the last five years you have been addicted to Class A drugs." |
| Phillips said during the trial that her life had been blighted by "disastrous" relationships, her last being with co-defendant Davies. | Phillips said during the trial that her life had been blighted by "disastrous" relationships, her last being with co-defendant Davies. |
| She told the jury she had two abortions, and started using crack cocaine shortly after the second termination, when she was 23 and living in London. | She told the jury she had two abortions, and started using crack cocaine shortly after the second termination, when she was 23 and living in London. |
| She met Davies in January this year on a street corner in Gloucester, when he gave her a bag of heroin. | She met Davies in January this year on a street corner in Gloucester, when he gave her a bag of heroin. |
| After the hearing, Phillips said: "I'm glad it's all over. I've got no further comment to make. You can speak to Max Clifford - he's representing me." |