Judge's daughter is facing eviction
THE daughter of a judge is facing eviction and bankruptcy after failing to pay her rent for eight months.
Sarah Kate Hagen, whose mum Carol, pictured, regularly sits on cases at Bristol Crown Court, has been given 14 days to vacate the two-bedroom flat she lives in with her daughter, in Queen's Court, Clifton.
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Judge Carol Hagen
Miss Hagen was taken to the country court in Redcliffe Street by her landlord, Waterod Investments Ltd.
In a possession order hearing in front of District Judge Julie Exton yesterday, it emerged Miss Hagen was £5,699.94 in arrears, including the landlord's legal costs.
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Representing herself, Miss Hagen told the judge she lived in the flat with her eight-year-old daughter and had been trying to find somewhere else to live.
"So far, we haven't found anywhere," she said. "An extra week would help, but I don't know if that's possible."
Miss Hagen said she had applied to the city council for housing help, but nothing had been offered to her so far.
When asked by District Judge Exton of the likelihood that she would be able to pay the money owed to the landlord, Miss Hagen replied: "I've filed for bankruptcy – there's no way I could possibly (pay)."
Miss Hagen has until August 21 to move out.
For every day she stays after that date she will owe the landlord another £21.37, the court heard.
The Post understands Miss Hagen has lived in the flat for about two years and rent, which hasn't been paid since January, is £650 per month, excluding bills.
When asked outside court how she had got into this financial situation, Miss Hagen said: "Just personal difficulties."
An order for possession means a tenant does not have the right to stay in the property he or she is renting after the date given in the order, usually 14 or 28 days after the court hearing.
If Miss Hagen does not leave by the set date the landlord can ask the court to evict her, through a 'warrant for possession', which will have its own deadline.
Waterod Investments Ltd, which owns the flat Miss Hagen lives in, declined to comment on the case.
Judge Carol Hagen regular dispenses justice on the Western circuit and sits at Bristol Crown Court most days.
She has passed sentenced on many high-profile cases that have hit the front page of the Post, including that of prolific burglar Jason Reed, 39, whom she spared immediate jail, opting for a suspended prison term, only for him to carry out 22 more break-ins.
Then, in April, Judge Hagen jailed him for six years, only to reduce that sentence by a year, under the "slip" rule that allows judges to change their mind on sentences within a certain period.
Comments
by Big_Gregory
Thursday, August 09 2012, 10:04AM
“areabrsitol - why should her mother help her out? For all we know she may have helped her in the past and seen her get herself in more trouble. Constant bailing out by a wealthy parent isn't going to help long term.
I've not got much sympathy with the individual - why continue to remain in the most expensive area of Bristol if you cannot afford the rent? I wonder if this is another example of someone wanting everything in life with no means of paying for it, living life off credit cards etc and then blaming the government, banks, capitalism or whatever for their troubles rather than looking at themselves?
As much as I despise Judge Hagen and her liberal sentencing I don't see why she she be used as a cheap headline to sell papers on this occasion.”
by KBillies
Wednesday, August 08 2012, 9:10PM
“publishing stories likes this makes me despise journalists.”
by southville2
Wednesday, August 08 2012, 9:08PM
“It seems that again the Post is carrying on it's vendetta against Judge Hagen.How many stories from the same court in the pasy year has made the front page of the Post?
The story mentions a previous case that Judge Hagen presided over,another case she presided over recently was put somewhere in the middle of the paper.It didnt merit front page because she jailed the person found guilty.”
by blahblkah
Wednesday, August 08 2012, 4:00PM
“Living the dream.”
by katachua
Wednesday, August 08 2012, 3:37PM
“I'd say the Post was conducting a vendetta, if I thought their trainee journos could spell it.”
by jceegas
Wednesday, August 08 2012, 2:24PM
“theres a bedsit going on stokes croft”
by Badladdy
Wednesday, August 08 2012, 1:08PM
“If s##t-stirring was an Olympic event, The Post would have quite a medal haul.”
by Lone_Ranger
Wednesday, August 08 2012, 12:26PM
“Bigtown - In which language was your rant written? The total ignorance of grammar, syntax, punctuation and spelling would indicate that it couldn't possibly be English.”
by FromMendip
Wednesday, August 08 2012, 10:59AM
“This sort of story is something the news media believe the public is interested in, and to an extent it is right.
It's unfair on the young woman that it should hit the local headlines because of who her mother is, whereas if her mother had an 'ordinary' rather mundane job it wouldn't, but there is no doubt that there is a public interest in this, rightly or wrongly.
It's no different to the type of headline and related report, 'Policeman's son convicted of shoplifting' or 'MP's mother assaults neighbour'.
Were it not for the position of a close relative these stories would not be reported because the general public, or regional general pulic in this case, would not be interested.
Some won't be anyway but those who condemn the story obviously were interested or else they wouldn't have bothered to read it - the headline makes it pretty clear what it's all about.”
by CurtisHewitt
Wednesday, August 08 2012, 10:56AM
“@Cider_Dog "...believe me she was never in any 'difficulty' when I saw here having a great time in the pub!"
My old boss never had any difficulties having a great time in the pub. His difficulties came when the pub was closed.”