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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Ann Duffy jailed for cancelling brother's wedding | Ann Duffy jailed for cancelling brother's wedding |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A woman who cancelled her brother's wedding because she did not like his bride-to-be has been jailed for eight weeks. | A woman who cancelled her brother's wedding because she did not like his bride-to-be has been jailed for eight weeks. |
| Ann Duffy, of Plymouth, was also issued an indefinite restraining order against her brother's wife. | Ann Duffy, of Plymouth, was also issued an indefinite restraining order against her brother's wife. |
| The 50-year-old had previously admitted harassment without violence. Prosecutors compared the case to an EastEnders' plot line. | |
| Magistrate Graham Price said Duffy's conduct was "totally unacceptable". | Magistrate Graham Price said Duffy's conduct was "totally unacceptable". |
| 'Saved from divorce' | 'Saved from divorce' |
| Duffy impersonated her now sister-in-law Sandra in a phone call to Plymouth Register Office to tell them to cancel the ceremony. | Duffy impersonated her now sister-in-law Sandra in a phone call to Plymouth Register Office to tell them to cancel the ceremony. |
| She made the call on 5 November, 20 days before the wedding was due to go ahead. | She made the call on 5 November, 20 days before the wedding was due to go ahead. |
| The court heard she called her brother David Greatrex and told him: "You had better put this on speakerphone. | The court heard she called her brother David Greatrex and told him: "You had better put this on speakerphone. |
| "I have saved you from a divorce. I have cancelled your wedding. Would you like me to send you the confirmation email?" | "I have saved you from a divorce. I have cancelled your wedding. Would you like me to send you the confirmation email?" |
| The couple contacted the police to say Duffy had impersonated Sandra and called off the ceremony. | The couple contacted the police to say Duffy had impersonated Sandra and called off the ceremony. |
| 'Cruel, vindictive act' | 'Cruel, vindictive act' |
| Prosecutor Will Rose said: "It is like a lift from an EastEnders' plot line, but it was the sad reality that confronted the complainants in this case." | |
| He said it was "a cruel and vindictive act which left the couple distressed and distraught". | |
| They were able to reinstate the wedding, which went ahead on the chosen day. | They were able to reinstate the wedding, which went ahead on the chosen day. |
| In a police interview, Duffy admitted she had a strained relationship with her sister-in-law who was looking after her mother. | |
| She said she was trying to protect her brother from a marriage to someone she disliked and who she felt was taking away her mother. | She said she was trying to protect her brother from a marriage to someone she disliked and who she felt was taking away her mother. |
| Duffy said she only wanted to cause Sandra distress, not her brother. | Duffy said she only wanted to cause Sandra distress, not her brother. |
| Miss Rebecca Wood, mitigating, said: "She does not like her sister-in-law and there are ongoing issues between them. | |
| "It is not an excuse. She intended to cause inconvenience and upset." | "It is not an excuse. She intended to cause inconvenience and upset." |
| Magistrate Mr Price said: "It was a planned, deliberate, spiteful and vindictive offence." | Magistrate Mr Price said: "It was a planned, deliberate, spiteful and vindictive offence." |
| Outside the court, Mr Greatrex said: "She was really jealous and kept accusing Sandra of trying to take her brother away." | Outside the court, Mr Greatrex said: "She was really jealous and kept accusing Sandra of trying to take her brother away." |