Disturbed woman who held psychiatric nurse prisoner at knifepoint jailed

Leeds Crown Court heard yesterday that Angela Senior, who had been drinking and not taking her regular medication, refused to let Alison Anderson leave telling her at one point “now you know what it feels like not to see your children”.

Senior took her bag and mobile phone, threatening to use the nurse’s car to find and stab her former partner. She stole £45 from the bag saying she wanted to buy more drink.

Chloe Fairley, prosecuting, said Senior became ill after taking some of her tablets and Mrs Anderson took the opportunity to snatch a phone and run upstairs to call the police.

Senior followed, however, brandishing the knife. She was angry and when both women were back in the living room she attacked the television set with it and cut her wrists with broken glass.

She only opened the front door after seeing police officers outside and told them she had been feeling suicidal.

Senior, 41, of George Street, Streethouse, Pontefract was jailed for three years after admitting false imprisonment and theft.

Recorder Richard Mansell QC said he considered her dangerous because of her mental health problems including depression and an emotionally unstable personality disorder.