Mother with 90 convictions is jailed for topless chase down main rail line

Joanne Mayor, 27, stood topless in the middle of the tracks and waved her arms around as officers pursued and eventually caught up with her.

A sheriff yesterday told Mayor he had no option but to send her to prison for nearly two years. Mayor, who has about 90 convictions to her name, was the centre of controversy recently when she was repeatedly granted court bail despite her lengthy record.

Sheriff Lindsay Foulis said: "No disrespect to Miss Mayor, but she continues to offend as soon as she is released. The options available to the court are well and truly exhausted and the only disposal is one of custody."

Mayor's solicitor, Christine Hagen, told Perth Sheriff Court that Mayor realised she would be jailed but did not expect to receive the help she needed for her drug problems in Cornton Vale, because of the demands of other inmates.

Last week, the Chief Inspector of Prisons, Brigadier Hugh Munro, said Cornton Vale was in "a state of crisis" because of overcrowding. Governor Teresa Medhurst claimed that the majority of women were short-term prisoners who would be better off being sentenced in the community.

Yesterday, Ms Hagen told Sheriff Foulis: "There are services available in the prison. Realistically, given the number of women in Cornton Vale who suffer from drug and psychiatric problems, she is not hopeful of getting them."

Sheriff Foulis replied: "Have you been speaking to the governor? It may not be a perfect solution, but where else are we expected to put them?"

The court was told Mayor discarded her top and bra before setting off towards a tunnel at high speed on 29 October last year. British Transport Police officers, concerned for her safety on the main rail line out of Perth, set off after her and eventually brought her impromptu show to an end.

Mayor, of Sauchie Terrace, Crieff, admitted breaching the peace on railway tracks by conducting herself in a disorderly manner, stripping to the waist and standing in the middle of the railway tracks waving her arms around.

Fiscal depute Julie McAra said: "A witness employed by Network Rail was carrying out their duties when they saw the accused climb over the fence which segregates the main Edinburgh and Glasgow to Perth railway lines.

"They then saw the accused make her way down the main lines towards a tunnel area and they contacted British Transport Police based at Perth station.

"Upon arrival at the scene, they saw the accused still standing on the line. The accused, on seeing the police, made her way at speed towards the tunnels. The officers pursued her on foot, and before reaching the tunnels she stopped in the middle of the tracks, stripped to the waist and began waving her hands over her head.

"She was apprehended, advised to get dressed and led to a place of safety. The officers noticed that she was incoherent and slurring her words."

Miss Hagen said Mayor had taken alcohol and valium on the day in question.

Mayor also admitted a housebreaking charge.