Mother sent to prison in child-access row with ex-partner

Published on Friday 5 June 2009 22:28

A MOTHER has been jailed for three months and warned she could face longer in prison for repeatedly obstructing contact between her former partner and their daughter.

Tina Monem, 26, was held to be in contempt of court by a sheriff but was released after a couple of days pending an appeal against the three-month sentence, which she claimed was "harsh and oppressive".

Her challenge was rejected by three judges in the Court of Session, who said Ms Monem tried the sheriff's patience "beyond endurance". They ordered her return to jail to complete the sentence.

However, they made a finding against Ms Monem that she had committed contempt before them too, and she will be sentenced for that in due course.

Lord Gill, the Lord Justice-Clerk, who headed the appeal court, said: "If we were to pass sentence for that contempt now, the sentence might be severe.

"I think that we should give her the opportunity to reflect on the gravity of her conduct and to desist from it. I therefore propose that we should defer sentence for the contempt of this court for six months."

Ms Monem's battle with her ex-partner over their seven-year-old child was heard by Sheriff Richard Davidson in Dundee. The partner was granted six hours' contact a week, but it did not take place and Ms Monem made allegations against the partner, which were checked but found to be unsubstantiated.

Sheriff Davidson held Ms Monem, from Carnoustie, Angus, to be in contempt of court for failing to obey the orders for contact. He delayed imposing any sentence to see whether new contact arrangements would be successful.