Long, I'm sorry, but I just had to get this off my chest.

[earlgrey]

Yesterday, being our half term, we went to Nanny's to enjoy a few things.

We didn't get there 'till the arvo, but did fit in the flying eye.

Today, we were meeting friends at the Sylvanian shop in Arsenal. They drove, for us it was two changes of buses from Oxford Street. No sooner had we reached Oxford Circus, than a woman sitting next to mum, on the inside (she's 77, btw) rang the bell. Mum said 'do you want to get off here?' (not knowing who had rang the bell).

The woman said 'yes, can you move'. Mum, with all her might, turned round 180 degrees to let her off.

Reply was - I've got a heavy shopping bag on my lap, and I want you to get off. Mum said 'OK, just wait 'till the bus has stopped, then I'll get off for you'. She swung her legs round 180greees to let her off. The woman said 'if you don't let me get out I'll hit you'. Mum turned round a bit more, the woman got out and hit mum twice round the head.

Thank GOD someone was coming downstairs who restrained her, then the bus driver closed all the emergency doors and said 'that woman's not coming on public transport again'.

This was on a no. 10 to Regent's Street, but before John Lewis 12 police crew were on the bus, not letting anyone else off.

One lovely man coming from dowstairs restrained her, but in the end she kicked him from behind and he let had to let her go, but which point she said 'I'm disabled, you've got to let me off', although by this point she was running up the end of the bus pressing the emergency exits, of course of which the driver had closed.

Two things worry me. If that lovely man hadn't been coming down the stairs to get off that stop, would he have seen it. If all the people on the bottom floor hadn't witnessed it, where would me/mum/dds have been?

In the end, 4 people came to arrest her, 6 people gave witness, and I'm eternally gratefully for that, but it's put dd2's off London entirely.

Last story I got was an hour ago when she was witnessed and released on bail for FIVE weeks before appearing in court.

Any thoughts?

MD, I got up to let an old man sit down - mum didn't do anything wrong.

md, what do bail conditions actually mean?

Sorry, MD, went off to see to dd1 and xpost.

Earlygrey. What a terrible thing to happen to your mother. How is your mother now? It sounds like you are very shocked and traumatised by what happened. Please try not to relive the 'what if...' scenarios. I know it is difficult not to.

Basicallly when someone has been charged with an offence they are either kept in custody until next court hearing ( usually the following day if kept in) or they are bailed to attend court ( usually one week to two weeks).

They are bailed to court on the condition that they attend, if they dont they commit a further offence. Some years ago police were given the power to impose further conditions on them which previoulsy only the court could do. It saved people being kept in custody overnight to appear in court have bail condtions imposed on them then released. There are obvouilsy guidelines that police have to follow to impose the conditions.

These 'bail conditions' are denedant on the crime but in this case something like ' not to go on London Transport ' may be justified.

If whilst waiting to attend court they break any of the bail condition i.e go on London Transport ' they can be arrested again.

From what you have said I dont think she has been cahrged she has been bailed to retrun to the police station pending further enquires by the police.

Have they taken a statement from your Mum yet, if not I would say that the offender has been bailed to return to the police station at alter date.

Worth while clarifying with the police.

Also make sure that you are your Mum have been referred to Victim support. The officer in the case should have done this already.

victim support

The cranberries did indeed release 'zombie'.