Date error ends in lockup

BY CAROLYN THOMAS

A migraine led to a car accident and then a terrifying chain of events for Waimauku mother-of-two Angela Hughes.

The shock of unwittingly pulling in front of another vehicle wasn’t bad enough.

She was arrested, searched and put in a cell four months later because of a court clerical error.

Angela appeared at the Waitakere District Court on February
10 charged with care-less driving causing injury.

Hoping it was the end of the matter she was horrified to find a
warrant out for her arrest.

Her court date on the official letter given to her at an earlier appearance was supposed to be February 9.

"I had the evidence in my hand," Angela says.

"I was showing my letter saying ‘please just read it’.

"No one would believe me. No one was listening."

A trip to the Henderson police station to explain the mistake led to her being processed.

"I suppose they treated me like any common criminal," Angela says.

She was frisked, had to lift up her bra and was stripped of her shoes and jewellery. She refused a DNA test.

Angela says the officers were nice to her but no one showed any common sense.

Police took her back to court and put her in a prison cell despite her pleas not to.

"I was in such a state.

"I couldn’t breathe. I was crying, sobbing and howling," she says.

She was put in a cell with three rough-looking girls who were banging on the door and swearing.

"I felt so intimated. I was absolutely terrified and scared for my life.

"It was just like a horror story."

Her distressed mother Laurene Eades, who had been with her in court, managed to find a helpful Salvation Army volunteer.

Eventually Angela was able to talk to her lawyer and call her husband.

"I felt so embarrassed and so humiliated," she says.

Angela’s case then couldn’t be heard because her file was missing.

She will reappear today with a support group including her 14-year-old daughter Bayley.

"She says: ‘I’m not letting this happen to you again mum’."

Angela has had trouble sleeping since the ordeal and fears panic attacks. She has written to John Key’s office and hopes it doesn’t happen to anyone else.

"All this has been worse than my car accident," she says.

The court officially apologised on Friday and Angela is waiting to hear from police.

- © Fairfax NZ News