Asbo OAP injured on court steps

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An 82-year-old woman once described by a judge as "the original neighbour from hell" has left her latest court appearance in an ambulance.

Dorothy Evans, from Abergavenny, Monmouthshire was appealing against her conviction for driving offences.

The pensioner, who recently completed a jail term for harassment and breaching an Asbo, appeared to fall down steps inside Cardiff Crown Court.

The judge said he had no choice but to adjourn the appeal.

Mrs Evans had arrived at the court by taxi to appeal against both her sentence and conviction for the offences committed in October 2005.

It is regrettable and I very much regret the inconvenience caused to prosecution witnesses but there is very little we can do about it Judge Philip Richards

She was found guilty at a trial in May of driving without due care and attention, failing to stop after an accident and failing to report an accident.

But due to an administration error, one of the five prosecution witnesses was absent from the court on Friday.

However, Judge Phillip Richards said the appeal would be part heard - despite protestations from Mrs Evans.

Ice pack

Defence barrister Andrew Barcello withdrew his services, saying he had lost the confidence of his client.

Mrs Evans was then told by the judge she would have to get a new barrister - or defend herself in court.

But during an adjournment, the pensioner appeared to fall down a small set of steps in court, and complained of an injured knee.

An usher qualified in first-aid applied an ice pack, but it was decided an ambulance was needed to take Mrs Evans to hospital.

Judge Richards said he had no choice but to adjourn the appeal for a mention the following week.

He said: "It is regrettable and I very much regret the inconvenience caused to prosecution witnesses but there is very little we can do about it."

An ambulance arrived shortly afterwards to take Mrs Evans to hospital.