A WOMAN who gave evidence in a murder case has been getting threats in prison, Bournemouth Crown Court heard.

Bernadette Whelan was targeted after speaking about her cellmate’s confession over the death of a 14-year-old boy, the court was told.

The details came out as Whelan, 37, from Fortescue Road in Branksome, was being sentenced for a burglary.

She wrote a letter about her experiences in prison, which included details of the threats, and Judge John Harrow said it made for “grim reading”.

Isabelle Gillard, defending, said: “She gave evidence for the prosecution in a murder trial at Worcester Crown Court.

“It was relied upon by the prosecution – it was a cell confession, made by a cellmate.

“The woman concerned was convicted. It was the murder of a 14-year-old boy.

“However since then – it was in a cell at Eastwood Park – when she has been in custody, particularly on the latest occasions when she was in Eastwood Park for a little while, she has been subject to threats and that’s what she has put in your letter.

“The senior officer in her prison has been through her entire file and there are references to her having told the prison about these threats even in January this year.

“It’s a recurring problem for her now in custody.”

Whelan admitted burglary after she stole items from a property while the resident was in the garden.

Isabelle Gillard said Whelan’s “dreadful” history of offending was driven by heroin addiction but there were signs she was turning over a new leaf, for example taking part in prison courses.

Judge Harrow told Whelan: “Reading what happens to you in prison and the awful things you have seen in prison makes grim reading.”

He sentenced her to 876 days in prison, a figure that reflected reductions for her guilty plea and the time spent on remand.