Death-threat granny banned from talking to kids in her Hull street

A GRANDMOTHER has been banned from speaking to young children in her street after threatening to kill them.

Patricia Greene, who became the oldest person in Hull to be issued with an Asbo, has now been handed a restraining order banning her from approaching the children, aged just five and six.

The grandmother of three threatened to kill the youngsters for playing outside their home in Jipdane, Orchard Park, and told them she wished they were dead. Just days after appearing in court for the offence she again had a confrontation with the children.

Prosecutor Jayne Bryan told Hull Crown Court: "Patricia Greene is a menace to both the adults and children who live in her community.

"About three years ago she started to become verbally abusive, swearing and shouting at parents and children who live in the vicinity of her home and that led to the imposition of the Asbo.

"This lady has made their life very difficult."

Mrs Bryan said the case had been very distressing for Greene's neighbours and had a "profound" effect on the youngsters.

The Crown Prosecution Service commenced a trial against Greene but dropped the charges when the judge agreed to issue her with a two-year restraining order banning her from speaking to the children.

Kirsty Desire-Delannoy and her husband Mark had only moved into a house opposite Greene for a month before she started being abusive to their five-year-old son.

Mrs Bryan said: "On May 29, their son was playing out with another child and Greene took exception to where they were playing and asked them to move on.

"The boy's mum explained she wanted them to play directly outside the front of her house to keep an eye on him as he is only five."

Greene then came out of her bungalow and shouted at the children that she wished they were dead and threatened to kill them if they came near her garden.

She was bound over to keep the peace for 12 months but just three days after appearing in court she again had a confrontation with the children.

The children were again playing outside their home when she allegedly swore and shouted at them and asked their parents what they had "bred".

Greene claimed they had been banging her fence.

Gillian and Andrew Wilson also live opposite Greene's bungalow and their six-year-old grandson was also threatened.

The couple, who have lived in the same street for more than 30 years, say she started to become abusive three years ago.

Officers were called and Greene was handcuffed and put into the back of a police van before being driven to a police station, where she spent a night in a cell.

A nurse had to return to the pensioner's home to collect her numerous medications, the court was told.

The Honorary Recorder of Hull and the East Riding, Judge Michael Mettyear, said a "sensible" conclusion to the case was a restraining order.

He said: "She is just a lonely old lady who is confused and making a bit of a nuisance.

"There has got to be a better way of dealing with her than bringing her to Crown Court but we are prisoners to the law.

"This suggestion is commendable and sensible.

"None of the neighbours want blood in this case. They want nothing more than a bit of peace.

"They say this lady misbehaves and is loud and boisterous and a nuisance. It empowers me to make a restraining order.

"She was handcuffed and put in a police van and detained overnight and that's certainly enough punishment. I hope it will just bring a bit of peace to the street."

The restraining order bans her from communicating with her neighbours and from causing them harassment, alarm or distress.

Greene was given a two-year Asbo in September 2010, which has now expired.

She has been convicted for breaching her Asbo on two earlier occasions.

Speaking to the Mail after yesterday's case, Greene, who survived the Hull Blitz during the Second World War, said: "I never bothered anyone. It has all been a waste of taxpayers' money.

"The police just threw me in the van and the cuffs hurt my wrists.

"I can't believe I was treated like this at my age. I have never been so miserable.

"I just want a nice cup of tea and a roast pork sandwich now."