A first date descended into brutal violence, leaving the victim feeling suicidal. Stephanie Kerr, 36, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm and was sentenced to 18 months suspended for 18 months.
The Attack
The victim had messaged Kerr on Facebook, saying she found her attractive. They arranged to meet in Newcastle city centre the next day, had drinks, and returned to Kerr's home in Holystone, North Tyneside. There, they consumed alcohol, drugs, and food and were intimate.
Prosecutor Antonia Adie told Newcastle Crown Court: "The atmosphere took a turn over the course of that evening and into the early hours. The defendant subjected the complainant to assaults by punching her to the face a number of times throughout that evening and into the early hours."
Escape and Rescue
The victim said the assault spanned a long period with intervals. Her phone battery died, preventing her from calling police. She briefly left the property but returned. Eventually, she used the excuse of getting water to run out the front door, hiding behind a bin down the street.
An Asda delivery driver pulled up, and she asked him to call police. The driver noticed she looked terrified. Police arrived and found her still hiding, visibly upset, with substantial bruising and swelling to her face and eyes.
Impact and Sentencing
In a victim impact statement, she said: "This has left me suicidal. I want to lock myself away from the world and never go out again and never be in a relationship or date again. I've never been attacked like this before and never been in pain like this before. This attack has completely ruined my life."
Kerr, who has 68 previous convictions including several assaults, pleaded guilty in December 2023. The court heard she has mental health problems including PTSD and emotionally unstable personality disorder. Her defense lawyer Penny Hall said Kerr "felt targeted and she acted inappropriately, perhaps triggered by events in her life."
