Amanda Hauser has a long criminal history (Picture: Google/BPM Media)
A Staffordshire grandmother has been fined after she battered on her neighbours’ doors in the middle of the night while in the grip of monkey dust paranoia.
Amanda Hauser, 51, told police officers who arrived on the scene that she was trying to get help because a ‘man was after her’.
She later said she had accidentally used monkey dust after trying a different dealer.
Taking the drug, which can cause extreme episodes of paranoia, led her to require sedation and resulted in a four-day stay in critical care.
Prosecutor Clare McGowan said: ‘On October 21 of this year at 1am, police were dispatched to Bell Orchard after reports of banging on people’s doors.
‘Officers arrived and found the defendant kicking on doors and yelling.
‘Officers arrested her. This defendant was under the impression that there were gentlemen coming to get her and she was asking if there was any help.’
Hauser was sentenced at North Staffordshire Justice Centre (Picture: Google)
Hauser, from Ashley near Stoke-on-Trent, pleaded guilty to one count of using threatening abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.
She has a long criminal record and was previously jailed for stealing bank cards from a woman who was having an epileptic fit.
What is monkey dust?
According to the UK Addiction Treatment Centres website, monkey dust is the street name of a synthetic psychoactive substance with the scientific name 3,4 methylenedioxypyrovalerone, or MDPV.
Also known as ‘magic’, ‘bath salts’ or ‘zombie dust’, it can have a similar effect to drugs like cocaine or amphetamines by producing a powerful rush of energy.
It can also cause hallucinations, paranoia and an increase in violent tendencies during a high that may last for up to 12 hours.
Over the past five years, its prevalence in Stoke-on-Trent has led to the city being described as the UK’s capital of monkey dust.
Katie Preston, defending, said: ‘She did take a substance she purchased from a dealer she had not bought from before not aware it was monkey dust. As we know, monkey dust causes extreme paranoia and distorts the mind.
‘She was taken to the hospital where she was placed and sedated for four days in critical care. She was traumatised by this experience.
‘Even though she has a long history of offending this is just out of character for her.’
Hauser was given a 12-month conditional discharge and was fined £161.
The police were called when she started banging on her neighbours’ doors.
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