A woman from Staffordshire who attempted to flee the country to start a new life in Tunisia, in direct defiance of a court order, saw her plans unravel on the M25 motorway.
The Failed Escape Attempt
Maria Shaw, aged 46 and of Arundel Way in Longton, was intercepted by police on the M25 as she travelled towards Dover. The incident occurred in 2017, the day after a court order was issued against her. Prosecutor Andrew Wallace told Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court that Shaw had sold her possessions and arranged a job abroad. "She had sold up everything and was on her way to Dover," he stated. "It was only a timely intervention which led police to intercept her on the M25."
When stopped, Shaw was found to be in possession of forged letters. She was subsequently arrested and charged. Her actions led to a further offence when she later submitted a statement purporting to be from a prosecution witness, causing the adjournment of her initial trial.
Trial and Sentencing
Shaw denied a charge of perverting the course of public justice but was convicted after a trial. She admitted a separate charge of forgery. At a recent hearing, Judge Graeme Smith sentenced her to two years in prison, suspended for two years. She was also fined £1,000 and must complete a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement.
In his sentencing remarks, Judge Smith noted the seriousness of the offences, stating: "You were in the process, so the jury found, of trying to travel to Tunisia in breach of an order made by a court the previous day and having forged letters with you." He added that the offence involved proceeding with a pre-made plan and lasted "a matter of hours".
Mitigating Circumstances and Remorse
In mitigation, defence counsel Joseph Chivayo said Shaw "fully accepts her actions were wrong and she is truly remorseful". He explained that her thinking was "clouded" at the time due to several physical and mental health conditions, and that the offending was "directly linked to her health condition".
Mr Chivayo told the court that Shaw supports her mother and aunt, taking them to medical appointments. He said the plan to move was born from difficult personal circumstances and a relationship that gave her a "false impression" life would be better abroad. "She accepts, in hindsight, that the thinking was flawed," he added.
The judge acknowledged significant mitigating factors, including Shaw's lack of previous convictions, her subsequent clean record, and her health issues. He concluded she was at a low risk of re-offending.
