Chelsea Lyddon, 29, and Benjamin Sicolo, 37, carried out frightening acts of vandalism at the homes of Layla Wallace and that of her mother Louise Fielding in Newport. The pair wielded baseball bats, a meat cleaver and a golf club when they attended the home of a mother with a newborn baby to smash her windows, and also entered her property and trashed it.
Friendship Breakdown Leads to Threats
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Wednesday heard Lyddon and Ms Wallace had been friends but their relationship broke down. The defendant messaged the victim's sister and left a voice message in a state of "rage", in which she issued threats and said: "Watch you're all f*****. Layla, you're mum, the kids. You're f*****."
On May 29, friends Lyddon and Sicolo attended Ms Fielding's house where Ms Wallace and her children were also present, including her newborn baby. Prosecutor Abdullah Barakat said Lyddon shouted: "Come on, get out here" and Sicolo was wearing a balaclava.
Attacks on Two Homes
Ms Fielding told Lyddon to "go away" but Sicolo took out a small metal baseball bat and approached the living room. He waved it and touched the living room window with the weapon, before swinging it back and smashing the window, causing glass to fall over Ms Fielding.
The two defendants returned to Ms Fielding's home on June 2, with Sicolo possessing a long metal knife. He then threw a brick through the window, causing the glass to shatter and fall into the house. Later that day, they both attended Ms Wallace's house but she was not there. Lyddon had a golf club, which she used to smash glass panels in the front door and a window, and Sicolo was in possession of a meat cleaver. Sicolo entered the house and was later seen leaving through a smashed window.
Upon returning, Ms Wallace described the house as "trashed" with objects scattered everywhere. An examination of the house took place and Sicolo's blood was found at the scene, after he suffered a gash to his arm.
Victim Impact and Sentencing
In a victim personal statement read to the court by Mr Barakat, Ms Wallace said: "I really believe the people responsible were out to hurt me and my family. I can't get my head round the weapons they were carrying. I was frightened and couldn't believe this was happening. I couldn't sleep for days afterwards and I left the address, I couldn't return until days afterwards. I have been relocated to another area to keep me safe. I no longer live as close to my mother which is hard for me."
The court also heard Ms Wallace has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and anxiety and at the time of the offences she had recently undergone a caesarean.
Lyddon, of Hazlitt Close, Newport, pleaded guilty to burglary, criminal damage and possession of a bladed article. The court heard she has five previous convictions, for offences involving disorderly behaviour. Sicolo, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to burglary, possession of a bladed article, and two counts of criminal damage. The court heard he has 30 previous convictions for offences involving robbery, offensive weapons, drugs and violence.
In mitigation for Lyddon, Kevin Seal said his client has two children and described her as a "caring and law abiding mother". The barrister said the defendant lost her partner four years ago and she drank heavily. Sol Hartley, for Sicolo, said his client regrets becoming involved in a "fight between others" and he was misusing drugs at the time of the offences.
Sentencing, Judge Paul Hobson said: "Whatever the reason for the (falling out), it could not begin to justify what you decided to do, engaging in a campaign of lawless and frightening behaviour... It must have been a terrifying experience."
Sicolo was sentenced to three years and six months imprisonment. Lyddon was sentenced to three years imprisonment, suspended for three years. She was also ordered to carry out a mental health treatment requirement and a rehabilitation activity requirement. Both defendants were made subject to a restraining order for 10 years.
