An Old Bailey judge heard that Clapton has been br

An Old Bailey judge heard that Clapton has been branded
the ‘crack centre of Britain.

‘
The controversial remarks were made by a barrister defending
a young mother who attempted to use other people’s building society
books to pay for her drug habit.

Miss Emily Thornburry (corr) said Michelle Dobson, 26, could
point out several ‘crackhouses’ from her window in Weald Square.

‘She comes from an area which the media describe as the crack
centre of Britain,’ said counsel.

The court heard Dobson had first started using cocaine at the
age of 19 and progressed to its highly addictive derivative.

On September 1 last year a woman’s building society book was
stolen from a restaurant in Blackstock Road, Finsbury Park.

The victim called the office to cancel the book but the following
day Dobson called at a Finsbury Park branch and tried to reactivate
it.

She signed a piece of paper claiming she was the righful account
holder, while the assistant manageress, who knew the customer concerned,
called the police.

Dobson was still at the building society when officers called to
arrest her.

She moaned: ‘I don’t believe it.

I could have just walked off
and I waited for you.

I’m so depressed.

‘
A sealed envelope containing attempts to forge the victim’s
signature was found at Dobson’s home.

She admitted handling stolen goods and attempting to use a false
instrument.

Dobson asked the the court to take three other charges of
attempting to obtain property by deception into account.

The court heard Dobson, who spent two months on remand, has
previous convictions for similar offences.

But Judge Brian Smedley, QC passed a three year probation order
after hearing Dobson has managed to quit the drug and will attend a
help centre.

He also took into account that she will move to a hostel in
Willesden.

‘The motive for this offence, as for the previous offence was
to obtain money with which to fund your addiction to crack cocaine,
said the judge.

‘These offences are not uncommon and people must realise that
the time comes when the court has to say enough is enough.

‘I hope you realise that you are facing the risk of a subtantial
sentence of imprisonment.

‘The real answer is when you say no, difficult though it may
be.

‘
ENDS