A Tennessee woman who failed to keep her lawn cut and garden tidy has been jailed for not complying with city regulations.

Karen Holloway of Lenoir City in East Tennessee agreed that her lawn was in dire need of attention but that pressing family issues meant that she did not have to time to cut it.

However last July, she received a summons from the Lenoir City council saying that she had broken the law under Section 302.1 of the City of Lenoir Property Code – meaning that she would face a jail sentence.

Appearing before the court and admitting the offence, Judge Terry Vann initially sentenced Holloway to a five-day jail sentence – before amending it to six hours behind bars.

She said afterwards that she had offered to do five days of community service,  but the Judge refused her offer and said she should serve time behind bars.

Judge Vann has set up a follow-up hearing for November to check on the progress of the lawncare, suggesting that additional jail time may be added “if we are not satisfied with your lawn”