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'''Constance Briscoe''' (born in 1958) is one of Britain's first black female judges. She is a [[barrister]] who also serves as a part-time judge or [[Recorder (judge)|recorder]]. Her autobiography, ''Ugly'', details extreme physical and emotional abuse at the hands of her mother. |
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Born to two Jamaicans who settled in Britain in the 1950s, Constance was one of six children, and from a young age was singled out for abuse by her mother and stepfather. |
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Her mother used to beat her with a stick when she wet the bed, and verbally abuse her, calling her names like "black bitch, scarface, and Miss Pissabed". |
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She would spit at her and starve her, and puch her nipples and pull her breasts. When she was examined by a doctor, he believed that the lumps in her breasts were the result of cancer and not her mother's doings. |
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She worked hard at school, but there was "no question" her mother said, of her going to grammar school. She walked into social services and asked to be taken into care. When they refused, assuming her and her mother had just had an argument, she went home and drank bleach. Luckily, she vomited most of it up. |
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One day her mother attacked her so badly that her headmaster called Briscoe's mother in. Briscoe refused to go home with her, and was taken in by one of her teachers, Miss K. She flourished at Miss K's. |
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Unfortunately, Miss K was badly hurt in a car crash and Briscoe had to return home. |
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As Briscoe returned home, her mother decided to move out, taking some of the other children with her. Briscoe was thrilled, but it meant paying her mother £15 per month, while the others did not pay anything. So, at 14 she took two jobs and managed to pass 10 O levels. |
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After passing her A levels, she won a place to read Law at Newcastle University. Her mother refused to sign her grant form. Her mother tore it up, saying "Only clever people go to university." |
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Briscoe worked for one more year to prove that she was self sufficient and at 19 went to university. |
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==References== |
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*Briscoe, Constance. ''Ugly''. London : Hodder & Stoughton, 2006. 310 p.; 24 cm. ISBN 0340895977 (cased). ISBN 0340895985 (trade pbk.). Dewey class. no. 362.76092 |
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==External links== |
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*[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2092-1985687,00.html The Sunday Times] |
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*[http://www.metro.co.uk/fame/interviews/article.html?in_article_id=496&in_page_id=11 Metro.co.uk interview] |
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*[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1:117614356/Justice+for+the+ugly+one+%3B+Constance+Briscoe,+au.html?refid=ency_botnm Birmingham Post interview.] |
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[[Category:British barristers|Briscoe, Constance]] |
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[[Category:British judges|Briscoe, Constance]] |
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[[Category:Black people|Briscoe, Constance]] |
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