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Homeless woman admits cursing offence in court

A homeless woman was given a conditional discharge after she admitted cursing at a Government employee.Felicia Hassan, 42, pleaded guilty at Magistrates’ Court to using offensive words to Natasha Smith in an incident that took place on June 21 this year.The court heard that prior to the date in question, there had been several incidents between Hassan and Ms Smith, who works at the Tennis Stadium.Ms Smith had complained repeatedly that Hassan was trespassing on the property.On June 21, Ms Smith was leaving the offices of the Department of Sports and Recreations to move her car when she was approached by Hassan, who told her: “You f***ing b****. You’re going to pay.”After admitting the offence, Hassan told the court that she frequently used the tennis facilities to shower, and while other employees allowed this, Ms Smith had complained.“She was the only one who had a problem with it,” Hassan said. “She don’t run the place. She just works there.”Hassan also said Ms Smith had been stalking her, but Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner responded: “If you go down there to use the shower and she doesn’t let you, that’s not stalking.”Mr Warner sentenced Hassan to 12 months’ probation, including all social, psychological and psychiatric treatment recommended by court services.“You have a way of not cooperating with authorities and think you can to what you want when you want,” Mr Warner told her. “It doesn’t work like that.“You complain you are not getting help but I know when you are told how to get help, you refuse to comply.”