Christie Gore and Emma Taggart have been handed suspended prison sentences after launching a "savage" and "vicious" attack on a woman in a Northumberland pub. The assault, which took place in The Clayton Arms in Bedlington, left the victim with concussion, a buzzing noise in her ears, and extensive bruising.
Attack in Bedlington pub
Newcastle Magistrates' Court heard that Gore, 39, spotted the victim sitting in the pub and struck her to the side of the face before pulling her off her seat by her hair. Taggart, also 39, then joined in, and the pair rained down punches on the woman and pulled her to the floor. The victim was kicked numerous times as she lay on the ground, although prosecutors said it was unclear who delivered the blows.
During the attack, the victim curled up into a ball as she was repeatedly struck until Gore and Taggart were eventually pulled away. She later attended hospital, where she was found to be suffering from concussion, a buzzing noise in her ears, and extensive bruising over her face and body.
Court hearing and sentencing
Gore, of Dene View West, and Taggart, of Forster Avenue, both in Bedlington, were arrested and pleaded guilty to one count each of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. District Judge Paul Currer gave each a 24-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. He said: "For reasons known to yourself, you decided to launch a vicious attack upon [the victim], striking a blow to the side of her face as she was looking away.
"She was immediately shocked by this. You [Gore] then grabbed her hair and pulled her off her seat. You were then joined by Emma Taggart, who came to your aid. She took hold of [the victim] as well and aimed a number of blows to her head. [The victim] was taken to the floor where she was kicked. It was a persistent and savage attack, which was completely unnecessary."
Victim's statement and background
The court heard that Gore had been out celebrating her birthday in The Clayton Arms on October 10 last year when she spotted the victim, who she knew. Ruth Forster, prosecuting, said: "Christie Gore can be seen lunging towards the complainant with some force. From there, an altercation ensues. Emma Taggart also becomes involved and they can be seen to pull the complainant to the ground and punches are thrown."
The prosecution noted that most of the incident took place away from CCTV cameras, so it could not comment on what happened once the complainant was on the floor. The victim described herself being kicked all over by a few people but could not say exactly who. She had to protect herself by curling up into a ball and felt blows to her head, which started a buzzing noise in her ears.
In a statement, the victim said that at the time of the attack she had just finished treatment for cancer and her hair had started growing back. She said: "I feel that it was an unprovoked attack on me and I don't understand why she [Gore] and others attacked me. I feel embarrassed and I feel vulnerable."
The court was told that Gore, who has since lost her job as a carer, was attacked by the victim in 2019 and was fearful she'd be assaulted again. Graham Crouth, defending, said: "The defendant was not aware of the cancer treatment the victim was having. There was a previous incident in 2019 when [the victim] struck her with an iron. On this occasion, the defendant was out socialising with friends. While in the pub, she becomes aware that [the victim] is present and is told by one of her friends that [the victim] had been making threats towards her. The defendant accepts she didn't actually hear the victim makes these threats. She went out for a cigarette and came back in and saw the victim in front of her and she accepts the red mist descended and she attacked her."
Kyle Patterson, for Taggart, said she was addressing her personal difficulties and had now lost her previous good character. He added: "She made immediate admissions when spoken to by the police. There's a prompt guilty plea and she's expressed genuine remorse."
As well as the suspended sentences, both women were ordered to pay £200 each in compensation to the victim and were made subject of two-year restraining orders.
