An affiliation towards alcohol runs in my family. But I am the first to get in trouble with the law.
I had to get a social worker from criminal justice to write a report for me. I was advised by a friend to get in contact beforehand to ask what the questions would centre around and if I could get help from the gp as I diagnosed ad having bi-polar disorder. They were very curt on the phone.
I turned up at their office in a fouls mood. They were prejudice the moment I walked in the door. They said that they have "people like me" all the time who cannot cope with change and spontaneity and need to know how the room is layed out and what every question will be as it is part of their illness.
I thought to myself : I am the person in my friends who lives for the moment. I knew that I had to tread on thin ice.
I knew I was in for community pay back . But they got on their high horse. They said that they wouldn't put me forward for community payback because of my mental health history. They said I would indefinitely end up with a police tag. And they explained all the ins and outs. I thought great I will miss out on summer this year.
I explained my circumstances, how I lost my job, so my xmas money went up the spout. The boiler in my house broke. I had been in an abusive relationship. So when I got really drunk I acted out of character and they seemed to warm to me. So I left feeling relieved that they were on my side but thinking that a tag was harsh for my minor crime where I never harmed a person. I just destroyed someone's property.
My solicitor said they gave me a damning report and I was looking at jail time for vandalism. Yes you heard me right : jail for vandalism.