AN AGORAPHOBIC who failed to show up for probation appointments because of her fear of going outdoors was out shopping when officers visited her at home.

Kelly Keet, 34, was sentenced to six months in prison suspended for 18 months last year after being convicted of assaulting a man in Cunningham Crescent, West Howe.

As part of her sentence, she was ordered to serve a four-month curfew and complete a 40-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

She admitted failing to report for the activity requirement on February 8 and 21 and March 3.

However, Tom Horder, prosecuting at Bournemouth Crown Court, said the defendant had also failed to keep appointments between August and November 2016.

She was not charged in connection with these breaches.

Keet skipped some meetings because of long-standing issues with depression and anxiety, he said.

“[There was] some unhappy contact between the probation service and the defendant,” he said.

“In early October, a call was made by the supervising officer to the defendant.

“A male answered the phone and the message was that the defendant had gone out.

“The next day, another call was made. The call was terminated.

“Late on in October, a message was left by the defendant for her supervising officer to say, ‘Probation is rubbish’.”

Eventually, Keet was referred to a support worker.

In November 2016, she agreed to an appointment at home.

On the day of the appointment, a man answered the front door of her home in Moore Avenue, Bournemouth and said she wasn’t in.

“Another attempt was made in December.

“The defendant wasn’t there,” Mr Horder said.

“She had forgotten and gone shopping.”

Mitigating, Andrew Stone said Keet had told officers from the probation service that she struggled to leave her home.

“Family members have also been asked to attend courses to help her cope with being outside on her own without becoming too anxious,” he said.

“It really is quite an acute problem for her and one she is trying to do something about.”

Judge Peter Johnson said: “On the occasions when relevant officers have gone to her house, she has been out.”

However, Mr Stone said Keet isn’t a “hermit”.

“Sometimes she can go out,” he said.

Revoking the requirement and replacing it with a further electronically-monitored curfew, Judge Johnson told Keet he had taken the course “with some reluctance”.

“You have been given a substantial number of chances,” he said.