A respected horse trainer from Oxfordshire has been handed a suspended sentence after a drunken altercation with her boyfriend turned violently physical, culminating in an attack with a gin bottle.
Claudia Bennett, 31, was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court after admitting to wounding her partner, Oliver Edwards, during a heated argument at their home in Middle Barton. The court heard how the incident escalated from a verbal dispute to a serious physical assault.
The Night of the Attack
Prosecutor Jonathan Coode detailed the events of September 26th last year. After consuming a significant amount of alcohol, Bennett became involved in a fierce argument with Mr. Edwards. The situation deteriorated when she seized a full bottle of gin and struck him over the head with it.
As the bottle shattered, Bennett then picked up a large, jagged piece of the glass and stabbed Mr. Edwards in the leg, causing a significant wound. The victim was later treated at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford for his injuries.
A Life of 'Extraordinary Pressure'
In her defence, the court was told that Bennett was under 'extraordinary pressure' at the time of the assault. Her barrister, Peter du Feu, explained that she was running a demanding equestrian business while also caring for her mother, who was battling cancer.
Mr. du Feu argued that these extreme mitigating circumstances, combined with her immediate guilty plea and genuine remorse, should spare her an immediate custodial sentence. Character references described the attack as entirely out of character for Bennett.
The Judge's Sentence
Recorder John Bate-Williams acknowledged the mitigating factors but emphasised the seriousness of the offence. He sentenced Bennett to 12 months in prison, suspended for 18 months. She was also ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and 15 rehabilitation activity days.
Additionally, a five-year restraining order was put in place to protect the victim, Oliver Edwards. The judge warned Bennett that any breach of the order or further offences would likely see her sent to prison.
The case highlights the severe consequences of alcohol-fuelled violence, even for individuals with no prior criminal record and otherwise good character.
