Two sisters have been sent to prison for a vicious and sustained assault on a woman they considered a friend, leaving her unconscious on a city centre street following a birthday celebration.
A Night Out Turns Violent
Charlotte Whitham, 34, and Katrina Whitham, 30, had spent around nine hours drinking while out in Chester, Cheshire, to mark Katrina's birthday on August 3 this year. The group, which included their 38-year-old friend, was on Watergate Street when a verbal dispute escalated into extreme violence.
Shocking CCTV footage presented to the court captured the sisters attacking the victim twice. The video showed them punching, kneeing, and pulling their friend's hair. After initially walking away, the pair returned when the victim shouted at them. Charlotte was seen slamming the woman to the ground before Katrina unleashed a brutal burst of 23 punches to her face.
The Ferocity of the Assault
The attack did not stop there. Katrina then stamped on the victim's arm twice in an attempt to break it, before trampling on her head. The assault left the woman unconscious on the pavement, with passers-by rushing to her aid.
Within just 13 minutes, the sisters were tracked down and arrested by Cheshire Police after CCTV camera operators alerted officers to the incident. During her arrest, Katrina was heard saying 'oh yeah, I have done that', in reference to the assault, the court was told.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
The Whitham sisters appeared at Chester Crown Court on December 17. Both women, of Wade Court and Greenfield Lane in Chester respectively, had previously pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm on Friday, November 7, despite initially refusing to admit involvement.
Katrina denied admitting the assault in police interviews, claiming that while she had been in a physical altercation, she did not cause serious injury. Charlotte answered no comment to all questions and refused to watch the damning CCTV evidence.
Judge Simon Berkson jailed each sister for two years and eight months. Detective Constable Tim Butler, who led the investigation, stated: 'This nasty and violent assault doled out by Katrina and Charlotte Whitham resulted in someone they considered to be their friend left alone and unconscious in the middle of Chester city centre with very serious injuries.'
He added that the case demonstrated how a snap decision to turn to violence, obviously fuelled by alcohol, could have serious repercussions. The sisters' actions mean they will spend Christmas away from their families.
DC Butler concluded: 'I hope they spend their time behind bars to seriously consider their actions and what it means to be someone’s friend.'
