By Alric Lindsay
Tavia Leonie Wilson, a single mother of three children, was sentenced on November 13, 2024, to 30 days in jail for harassing the father of one of her children and possession of an offensive weapon at his front door. The weapon, in this case, was a hammer.
Background
Regarding the background, it was explained in Court that Wilson sent her baby’s father 300 messages a few days earlier, but it appears he ignored her. Wilson then showed up at her baby’s father’s home on February 4, 2024, where she engaged in a campaign of harassment from morning to afternoon.
When Wilson arrived at the home, she reportedly rang the doorbell at 5:30 a.m., returning at 6:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. On her final return, she reportedly had a hammer with her. CCTV captured all of Wilson’s activities.
Upon seeing her with the hammer, the baby’s father was fearful and called the police.
Upon being interviewed by the police, Wilson admitted the conduct but denied that she had any ill intent. She explained that she was seeking support for the child that they shared, and she said that she took the hammer as a precautionary measure if she needed to defend herself.
Sentencing
In Court, Wilson’s lawyer, Mr Dennis Brady, argued that she reacted the way she did because she was trying to get the attention of her baby’s father so that she could provide for the baby’s welfare.
Regarding her possession of the hammer, Brady suggested that it was not unusual for Wilson to have one since it was part of her work in the construction industry. In other words, she didn’t go out and buy the hammer to approach her baby’s father.
Attorney Dennis Brady
After hearing submissions from Brady and the prosecution, Chief Magistrate Hernandez noted that the custody threshold had passed, and an element of punishment was applicable. Chief Magistrate Hernandez also highlighted that Wilson showed no remorse for her actions, even saying in a report, “How could little me really harass or make somebody like him afraid?”
In the circumstances, Chief Magistrate Hernandez sentenced Wilson to 30 days for intentional harassment, alarm or distress and recommended that she be deported afterwards. Wilson was not given a separate sentence for the hammer.
