Four women have appeared in court charged with assaulting a female at a house in Ashington, Northumberland. Kirsty Hunter, Beverley Todd, Chelsea Coulson, and Rhiannon Coates are accused of kicking and punching the victim, causing facial swelling and multiple grazes that required hospital treatment.
Details of the Alleged Assault
The incident allegedly occurred on July 22 last year at an address in Ashington. The four defendants are said to have acted together in a group attack. The victim sustained injuries including a swollen face and multiple grazes, necessitating hospital care.
Hunter, 31, of Ridgeway, Ashington; Coulson, 30, of April Street, Ashington; Coates, 21, of Seacrest Road, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea; and Todd, 45, of Weardale Avenue, Blyth, each face one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. All four denied the charge during their appearance at South East Northumberland Magistrates' Court this week.
Court Proceedings
Prosecutor Clare Haswell informed the court that the Crown considered the case unsuitable for summary trial, stating: "The Crown would say that this is not suitable for summary trial. It's a suspected group attack involving punches and kicks to the head of one woman. We believe that the case is outside of the sentencing powers of these courts."
Defence representatives for all four defendants—Jack Lovell for Coates, Stewart Hay for Hunter, Adam Scott for Coulson, and Steve Chambers for Todd—concurred with the prosecution's assessment.
Chairing magistrate Professor Kenneth Toft committed the case to Newcastle Crown Court, remarking: "This is a very serious case and we don't have the powers to deal with it, so, you will be sent to Newcastle Crown Court to be dealt with there."
Next Steps
The defendants are due to appear at Newcastle Crown Court on August 5. They have been granted unconditional bail until that date. The magistrate warned: "If you fail to do so, the case could proceed in your absence."
