British Mother and Daughter Sentenced for Harassing Gay Couple  | News | Advocate.com

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04/26/08-04/28/08
British Mother and Daughter Sentenced for Harassing Gay Couple

A British mother and daughter have been sentenced after being found guilty of harassing a gay couple in the town of Kingston, Kent County. Karen Reeves, 44, was sentenced to five months in prison, and her 22-year-old daughter, Christie Myles, was given a 24-month probation order, according to BBC News.

According to the report, the feud began when Michael Harris and Shires Crichton sided with another neighbor in an ongoing dispute. Mother and daughter called the couple names, and Reeves attempted to hit them with her car.

"Although there was no evidence of violence, the psychological effect on the victims has been far-reaching," the chief magistrate judge said during the sentencing on Thursday. "In your case there are strong aggravating factors. Those factors are that you made homophobic gestures and remarks over an extended period, and you showed no remorse."

Reeves and Myles have also been issued restraining orders, barring them from having contact with Harris and Crichton for five years. The women's attorneys said they would appeal the sentence. (The Advocate)

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