A five-lettered word created a fuss in a courtroom last week.
A judge has raised concern that criminal law is being used to stop people swearing at each other. This follows after a woman called a man “pussy” over a voicemail when she tried to collect a debt said to be owed to her boss by the man.
Judge Daniel Pearce-Higgins was taken aback to find the woman’s use of the slur had got her arrested, charged and taken to court.
“That’s an offence, is it?” the judge asked prosecutors at Worcester Crown Court on January 30, 2017, where a full-day’s trial costs taxpayers £3,000.
“Good heavens. It’s fairly standard behaviour in life. I’m concerned criminal law is properly used, not to stop people swearing at each other. To call someone a pussy is impolite. It’s not an offence. It’s unpleasant but not a criminal act. If that’s the case, there’s an awful lot of criminals about.”
Aga Czachowska, aged 31, of Leypark Road, Exeter, admitted sending a malicious communication which was ‘grossly offensive’ between December 1 and December 7, 2015.
Czachowska had telephoned Karl Smalley, who had a £10,000 outstanding debt with her boss, and left a voicemail message that included the offensive word. Smalley and his wife Cheryl complained to the police, and the case was taken to crown court.
But the judge refused to grant a restraining order against the defendant, instead handed her a two-year conditional discharge.
