A PREGNANT woman who repeatedly ignored court orders may now be able to get help - because the boyfriend who beat her up is in jail, a court heard.

Cleo O’Donnell appeared at Worcester Crown Court on Monday after admitting taking a car without the owner’s consent, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and driving without insurance. The 20-year-old of Park Avenue, Worcester, will also be sentenced for breach of a two month suspended prison sentence.

Few details regarding the offences were disclosed in court by prosecutor Michael Aspinall after an adjournment was requested by the defence. Judge Daniel Pearce-Higgins QC said the maximum sentence she would receive would be one of six months. He added: “There’s such a long history of non-compliance.”

The judge said she had failed to attend appointments at Willowdene, which provides drug and alcohol alcohol rehabilitation, and two probation appointments designed to assist with sentence.

Judge Pearce-Higgins said: “The tone of the report (from probation) suggests that because of her aggressive behaviour Willowdene aren’t going to help her.”

Sam Lamsdale, for O’Donnell, said: “There’s certainly a suggestion that there could be a concern.”

However, she disputed an allegation that O’Donnell ‘chased her ex-partner down the street with a knife’.

Miss Lamsdale said that her client informed her ‘there was no such incident’ and ‘she was never arrested for any such incident’.

“It’s not entirely clear where that information has come from” said Miss Lamsdale.

Judge Pearce-Higgins asked why O’Donnell had not attended appointments. Miss Lamsdale said: “She panicked. She isn’t coping very well with life generally at the moment.

“Her abusive ex-partner last week was sentenced to 23 weeks for an assault on her. There is a much more serious assault he is still to be sentenced for which could mean he’s incarcerated for an even longer period of time.”

Miss Lamsdale said her client had had the windows of her home smashed which was ‘again linked to her ex-partner.’

She argued that with O’Donnell’s partner ‘out of the picture’ she would be able to re-engage with the probation service and her GP. O’Donnell has borderline personality disorder and there was also reference to conduct disorder which ‘may account for some of her aggressive outbursts’, said Miss Lamsdale.

“This is a woman who has had considerable mental health difficulties” said Miss Lamsdale who told the court her client was prescribed Sertraline for depression. The judge said she ‘isn’t mentally ill’ but accepted that she clearly needs ‘psychological support’. O’Donnell has a baby due in mid February.

Miss Lamsdale asked that her client be given ‘one last opportunity’ to engage because of the change in her circumstances. The judge agreed to the adjournment.

Although the judge said he was ‘minded to remand her in custody’ to ensure she attends her next appointment, he granted her bail on condition she attend an appointment at Worcester Police Station today at 9am.

The case will be heard at Hereford Crown Court on Monday, December 2.