Scarning woman Moira Williamson breached restraining order in Swaffham in bid to see her son

“A mother’s love for her son” led to her breaching a restraining order in a bid to see him.

Moira Williamson, 67, was sentenced for breaching the order when she appeared at Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

She had admitted the offence in September, with a pre-sentence report subsequently carried out by the probation service.

The court heard that Williamson, of Bluebell Close in Scarning - near Dereham - committed the breaches between March and May last year.

The order, issued in October 2023, had prevented her contacting her ex-husband, and had been set to run until December.

On one occasion, she paid a visit to a family member’s house while he was there, but made no attempt to leave.

She breached the order again by visiting the Swaffham Cafe on Market Place, knocking on a window in an attempt to get her son’s attention before trying to speak to them outside.

Williamson then failed to leave the address of another family member after her ex-husband arrived, and was eventually arrested in early June.

In a victim personal statement, her ex-husband said he was left feeling “stressed and anxious to leave the house”.

“I feel very vulnerable and intimidated by the defendant’s behaviour,” he said.

The court heard that Williamson had also previously breached a non-molestation order.

However, in mitigation, duty solicitor Andrew Cogan said that at the time of some of the recent breaches, she was told her presence was welcome - and was only reported to the police later.

“The real difficulty here is a mother’s love for her son,” he said.

“It seems that (the victim) intends on making sure that Moira Williamson is never to see her son again, and that is of some concern to her.”

Mr Cogan described the offences as “very minor, low-level breaches”.

He also pointed out that during the time between the restraining order expiring in December and this month’s court case, Williamson did not seek to contact her ex-husband.

“She could have taken the opportunity to say ‘yippee’ and taken the opportunity to go and see them,” he added.

“But she has not done that - she has kept herself to herself.

“It is a desperately sad situation.”

Mr Cogan then argued that a new restraining order would not be necessary - and could prevent Williamson from seeing her son if her ex-husband passes away.

Magistrates agreed, and opted not to impose any new order.

However, they handed Williamson an 18-month restraining order which will require her to complete 20 rehabilitation activity days.

She will also pay a £100 fine for her breaches, as well as a £114 victim surcharge and £50 in court costs.