Repeat offender is sent to jail for knife crimes

A 28-YEAR-OLD Plymouth woman repeatedly caught with a knife or blade in public and who wanted to go to jail but was instead given a chance to mend her ways in the community is starting a lengthy prison sentence.

- CARL EVE

Jessica Meehan, of no fixed abode, appeared at Plymouth Crown Court following an initial incident on Alma Road on May 5 this year.

Police were alerted by 999 calls about a woman matching Meehan’s description who was seen with a knife. Police traced her, and she was arrested after a member of the public who had walked past Meehan found a large kitchen knife hidden under a hedge.

At the following court hearing in May, Judge Peter Johnson heard how Meehan, a former Army soldier, had a long history of being in possession of bladed articles in public, with 11 convictions for 22 offences. He was told she had received a number of short prison sentences, but each had got longer over the years.

The court was told Meehan – who was jailed in 2021 for speeding and was later discharged from the Army – was later released on licence and resided in approved premises, but was recalled to prison when a knife was found on her bedside table. She was released on April 11 this year but was arrested just a few weeks later, on May 5.