In a case that has stunned the nation, a mother has offered a breathtaking excuse in court after admitting to setting another woman on fire during a vicious row over an e-scooter. The horrific attack, which left the victim with life-altering injuries, erupted at a Birmingham petrol station.
A Confrontation Ignites a Horror
The court heard how a simple dispute over a privately owned e-scooter rapidly escalated into unimaginable violence. Prosecutor Simon Denison KC detailed the events that led to the victim, a 48-year-old woman, being doused in petrol and set alight.
The confrontation began when the victim was riding her e-scooter near a Sainsbury's petrol station in Birmingham. The defendant, 41-year-old Christina Hawkes, took issue with this, leading to a heated verbal exchange.
The Petrol Station Attack
The situation reached its terrifying climax at the forecourt. In a moment of pure rage, Hawkes seized a petrol dispenser and deliberately sprayed the flammable liquid over her victim. She then produced a lighter and ignited the fuel, engulfing the woman in a ball of flame.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of sheer panic as the victim, screaming in agony, tried to pat out the flames. The attack was only stopped due to the brave intervention of a member of the public who rushed to her aid.
A Mother's Astonishing Defence
Despite pleading guilty to a charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, Hawkes presented a defence that left the courtroom in disbelief. Through her barrister, she claimed her actions were a desperate attempt to protect her own daughter from a perceived threat during the altercation.
This justification was presented as mitigation for an act the prosecution described as "calculated and determined," with the intent to cause the most serious harm.
Life-Altering Consequences
The physical and psychological scars borne by the victim are profound. She suffered extensive burns that required multiple skin grafts and has been left with permanent, disfiguring injuries. The trauma of the attack continues to impact her daily life, a stark reminder of the brutal incident.
As the case at Birmingham Crown Court continues, a nation is left grappling with the shocking nature of a daylight attack where a common disagreement spiralled into an act of attempted murder.
