Kerry Phillips of New Milton given suspended jail sentence after police found her hiding in wardrobe

A NEW Milton woman police found hiding in a wardrobe received a suspended jail term for offences including possessing a knuckle duster and cocaine.

Kerry Phillips (33) had to be arrested at her Davis Field home after repeatedly failing to appear at Southampton Magistrates’ Court in relation to the incidents.

A local police Facebook post told how officers had to enter and search the property after she did not come to the front door.

“Knowing that the female was very good at hiding within her home, officers carried out a thorough search of the property and eventually found a suspicious pair of jeans pressed up against the wall of a built-in wardrobe, partially hidden by various clothing,” the post said.

“Suffice to say, we won another game of hide-and-seek with the female and she was arrested.”

Phillips pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon in Lymington and stealing £152 of alcohol from the town’s Waitrose in February 2022.

She also pleaded guilty to possessing a class A controlled drug in Southampton, taking a vehicle without consent in Lymington and using a vehicle without insurance in New Milton. These offences all took place in March 2022.

As well as a three-month prison term suspended for 12 months, the Bench banned Phillips from driving for six months and ordered she forfeit the knuckle duster and cocaine for destruction.