A woman who broke into a man’s home in Stoke-on-Trent after a funeral wake, demanding the return of her cannabis, has been given an 18-month community order at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court. The case was first reported by the Stoke Sentinel.

Jenna Ferneyhough, 42, of Brownley Road, Smallthorne, pleaded guilty to burglary. The court heard she took two bicycles from the house and that damage was caused to a fish tank and a floor.

What the court heard

Prosecutor Alison Whalley said Ferneyhough attended a funeral with the homeowner on 8 April last year. They drank alcohol at the wake and, at about 6.30pm, she went to his house in Smallthorne and demanded her cannabis.

Ms Whalley told the court: “She left but returned and gained access by the back door. She was drunk. She took two bikes. She fell and damaged a fish tank.” The tank cost £300 to replace, and water from it caused £400 of damage to the floor.

Ferneyhough was arrested and interviewed. She admitted going to the house and causing the damage, said she meant to return the bikes, and said she caused the damage accidentally because she was drunk.

Edmund Potts, mitigating, said she had shown “fulsome remorse” to the probation service. He added that she was trying to cut down on drugs and alcohol but recognised she needed structured help from others.

The sentence

Recorder Robert Smith described the offence as “drunken stupidity”. He said burglary of a home is always serious and that people are entitled to feel safe in their own homes.

He said that, against that, the burglary was not planned, was not carried out for financial gain and was not motivated by criminal sophistication. He noted that Ferneyhough had known the homeowner for many years and that her use of alcohol and cannabis had played a significant role in “blighting” her life. He was satisfied the offence did not cross the custody threshold.

The community order includes a probation requirement and 60 hours of unpaid work. Ferneyhough will return to court on 10 December, when her progress will be reviewed. The judge also imposed a two-year restraining order banning her from contacting the victim or his family, or going to their address.

Cannabis is a Class B drug in the UK under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.