Girl’s plea keeps mum out of jail

Sammy Booth and her mum Julie Cairns. PIcture courtesy MEN Syndication

A DOBCROSS schoolgirl saved her mum from being sent to prison — by writing an emotional letter begging a judge to let her go free.

Sammy Booth (14), of Briarfield Road, penned the poignant words after her mum Julie Cairns (38) was hauled before the courts.

She had led police on a drink-fuelled high-speed car chase after giving a V-sign to officers who tried to stop her.

But in a letter to Recorder Phillip Cattan, at Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court, Sammy told how she needed her mum — and was frightened about what would happen if she was jailed.

She wrote: “My mum is a very good mum. She’s loving, caring and always here for me if I need someone to talk to.

“Mum’s had an alcohol problem for a few years since splitting up from my dad — alcohol turns her into someone she’s not.

“While under the influence of alcohol, her attitude and behaviour change. Drink takes over and becomes more important than anything else.

“This doesn’t really feel like it’s my mum, which upsets me.

“I don’t like seeing my mum upset and down saying she doesn’t want to be there no more. I tell her it will get better and give her a hug. I just want her better.”

The youngster ends her plea by writing: “The more help she can get, hopefully the better the outcome will be. I love my mum and want her to get better and to be happy.”

After reading the letter, Recorder Cattan gave Cairns a four-month prison sentence suspended for two years and ordered her to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work. But he told her she had escaped jail “by inches”, adding: “You should be thoroughly ashamed that she had to write such a letter.

“You showed complete disregard for everybody else on the road in order to get away from police officers. This is the sort of thing a young tearaway might do, not a person of your years.”

Cairns was also banned from driving for three years and ordered to complete a special drink-drive programme.

Sammy said after the case: “I love her so much. She’s a brilliant mum. I’m chuffed to bits that the judge allowed her to come home.”

Cairns sped off when police tried to stop her in Dobcross New Road shortly before midnight on August 22 last year. Officers followed her along eight different roads, with speeds reaching 60mph at times.

During the pursuit, she drove on the wrong side of the road and sped across a mini-roundabout at 50mph.

She was eventually stopped in a cul-de-sac and arrested as she struggled with officers. A breath test showed she was almost four times the drink-drive limit.

Timothy Hopley, defending, said there had been a sad background to the incident, including bereavement, and abuse of alcohol.

The court was told she has recently completed a detox programme.

Cairns, who pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, said: “I must have been seeing red that night. At the time, I didn’t know what was happening.”

She added: “Drink is a poison and I’ll never touch it again. I can’t thank Sammy enough.”