Homophobic Mom Sentenced to Prison for Abusing Gay Couple With Her Daughter
Friday 25th April 2008
A mother who led her daughter in a prolonged campaign of abuse against a gay couple has received a 150 day prison sentence.
Perhaps the threat of prison can reduce homophobic abuse.
44-year-old Karen Reeves and her 22-year-old daughter Christie Myles were both punished with a five year ban on entering the Canterbury area parish of Kingston. Kingston was the scene of the two women’s campaign of homophobic abuse against gay couple Michael Harris and Shires Crichton.
The couple, nicknamed “the only gays in the village” in reference to a popular comedy sketch on TV show Little Britain, started being abused by the mother and daughter team after they bought a home on land owned by Karen Reeves’ mother. Reeves and Myles were frequent visitors to the land, driving from the nearby resort town of Whitstable almost daily to look after horses they owned.
Reeves and Myles used their visits to their horses as an opportunity to subject Harris and Crichton to a veritable torrent of abuse. The couple was verbally abused by both mother and daughter on an almost daily basis. Harris said that matters came to a head one day when Reeves aimed and drove her car at Harris in an incident that he said made him fear for his life.
Court magistrates shamed the two women for their horrific behaviour. Magistrate’s chairman Robet Scrase said: "Michael and Shires moved into the property to enjoy the idyllic country lifestyle. It is clear to us that their quality of life and hopes for the future have deteriorated."
While Reeves received her 150 day prison sentence, Miles was shown a bit more mercy. She was given two years of probation and told to pay £625 in court costs. Reeves has vowed to appeal her sentence, but with bail having been denied she will likely serve much of her sentence before an appeal can be held.
The couple expressed happiness after the sentencing. Mr Harris said: “I am just so relieved.” Hopefully Reeves’ sentence will serve as a future deterrent to those misguided fools who feel abusing homosexuals is an acceptable leisure time activity. Perhaps Reeves will use her time behind bars to ruminate on her mistakes and why we’re all deserving of basic civil treatment.
Perhaps the threat of prison can reduce homophobic abuse.
44-year-old Karen Reeves and her 22-year-old daughter Christie Myles were both punished with a five year ban on entering the Canterbury area parish of Kingston. Kingston was the scene of the two women’s campaign of homophobic abuse against gay couple Michael Harris and Shires Crichton.
The couple, nicknamed “the only gays in the village” in reference to a popular comedy sketch on TV show Little Britain, started being abused by the mother and daughter team after they bought a home on land owned by Karen Reeves’ mother. Reeves and Myles were frequent visitors to the land, driving from the nearby resort town of Whitstable almost daily to look after horses they owned.
Reeves and Myles used their visits to their horses as an opportunity to subject Harris and Crichton to a veritable torrent of abuse. The couple was verbally abused by both mother and daughter on an almost daily basis. Harris said that matters came to a head one day when Reeves aimed and drove her car at Harris in an incident that he said made him fear for his life.
Court magistrates shamed the two women for their horrific behaviour. Magistrate’s chairman Robet Scrase said: "Michael and Shires moved into the property to enjoy the idyllic country lifestyle. It is clear to us that their quality of life and hopes for the future have deteriorated."
While Reeves received her 150 day prison sentence, Miles was shown a bit more mercy. She was given two years of probation and told to pay £625 in court costs. Reeves has vowed to appeal her sentence, but with bail having been denied she will likely serve much of her sentence before an appeal can be held.
The couple expressed happiness after the sentencing. Mr Harris said: “I am just so relieved.” Hopefully Reeves’ sentence will serve as a future deterrent to those misguided fools who feel abusing homosexuals is an acceptable leisure time activity. Perhaps Reeves will use her time behind bars to ruminate on her mistakes and why we’re all deserving of basic civil treatment.
