A mother who complained about children making a noise in the street was assaulted by another mother, leaving her with a broken nose and other injuries. The incident occurred in Sunderland, and the attacker has now been sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court.
Altercation over screaming children
The victim was at home around 9.30pm on July 1 last year when she heard children causing a disturbance outside. Emily Sanderson, prosecuting, said: “This concerned her because her children were trying to sleep. She said it was deliberate screaming which went on for 30 minutes. At five to ten her youngest child was woken up and said they were scared.”
The woman went to her front door and challenged the children, who shouted abuse back at her. She went out to move them on and saw Billy-Jo Ryan, the mother of one of the youngsters. A verbal altercation followed, and the victim walked towards Ryan as they continued arguing. Ryan pointed a finger at her, and the woman pushed her hand away.
Attack captured on CCTV
Miss Sanderson said: “The defendant punched her to the face with a closed fist then grabbed her by the hair and pulled her down to the floor. The defendant continued punching her to the head. She described it as fighting for her life. The defendant continued grabbing and punching her until members of the public were involved.”
Describing CCTV, Miss Sanderson said: “It shows them shouting at each other before the defendant swings at her, grabs her hair and pulls her to the ground. The defendant struck her four times initially to her head. She got to her feet but was pulled to the ground again by her hair. The defendant appears to kick her and struck her a further nine times on the floor and was dragging her by the hair before members of the public intervened, including one of the complainant's children who came out.”
The victim's own children witnessed the attack and saw their mum covered in blood. She was taken to hospital with a suspected head injury and vomiting, and suffered a broken nose and cuts and bruises to her face and body.
Victim impact and sentence
In a victim impact statement, she said: “From this assault, my life has changed in many ways. I'm in fear and stay in my front garden and in fear she would intimidate me given any opportunity. Following the assault that occurred outside my address as a result of this assault I'm unable to breathe through my right nostril or blow my nose without pain.”
Ryan, of Toronto Road, Sunderland, but described as having no permanent accommodation, has four previous convictions but none for violence and none for 14 years. She was found guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm by magistrates on the basis she was right to think she needed to use force but that the force was disproportionate and amounted to excessive self-defence.
Recorder Craig Hassall KC sentenced her to 20 months suspended for 18 months and imposed a five-year restraining order. He told her: “I've watched the whole incident on CCTV and I'm told you now accept it's an ugly incident, particularly so bearing in mind it was witnessed by not only the children of the complainant but by your child as well. I hope you appreciate your behaviour on that evening is absolutely no example whatsoever for you to set your own child.”
Her barrister said the victim had walked “a considerable distance” towards her and that Ryan had turned her back and begun to walk away. He also alleged the victim had “launched a headbutt at the defendant”.
