Woman who was 'living in a forest' threatened to stab man and kill children
A woman who had been "living in a forest" threatened to stab a man and caused damage to a number of addresses in Antrim town.
Lauren Houston (31), with an address listed as Greenpark Drive in Antrim, appeared at Ballymena Magistrates' Court on Thursday via video link from prison.
She was sentenced on charges including possessing a knife; making threats to damage property; and causing criminal damage on November 29 last year.
A woman told police the defendant was outside a property, shouting and wielding a knife and making threats to "burn the property and threatening to kill children therein".
At another address Houston smashed a window. She entered the house and lifted a knife and pointed it at a man and threatened to stab him. The man was able to restrain her and take the knife off her.
At another property she smashed bottles from a recycling bin and headbutted a window.
When interviewed, the defendant told police she had drank wine and taken three grammes of cocaine and had no memory.
On May 12 this year police received a report that at 1.30am the defendant was "going mad" at a bail address in Antrim.
She was arrested. She was screaming and shouting with police that she wanted nicotine and spat at a police officer and kicked another officer.
The defendant told the court she had previously been "burnt out of my home".
A defence barrister said the defendant had been burnt out of her home in 2024 and had been homeless and "living in a forest".
He said she had ongoing issues with her mental health.
She turned to illicit substances and there had been drug-induced psychosis.
He said she in a more stable position and is remorseful. The defendant was jailed for four months.