Colette Bielby, a 39-year-old mother of two with a history of violence, has been sentenced for a vicious assault on a 17-year-old girl at a restaurant and cocktail bar in Hornsea. The attack, which occurred on November 22 last year, involved punching the teenager in the face, causing a nosebleed, and pulling clumps of hair from her scalp.
Details of the Attack
Hull Crown Court heard that Bielby approached a group of males and tried to interact with the victim's boyfriend before turning on the girl at around 12:36 am. Recorder Abdul Iqbal KC stated that Bielby was "grinding against" the boyfriend and then became "aggressive and violent" towards the girl. She "shoulder barged" the victim towards the bar "with some force."
While the girl attempted to defend herself, Bielby punched her several times in the face and grabbed her hair, causing her to stumble backwards and cry. Recorder Iqbal told Bielby: "She tried to push you away. When you eventually did let go of her hair, it seems that you had pulled some clumps of it away from her scalp. It seems that wasn't enough for you."
Continued Assault Outside
After being escorted outside by a man, Bielby approached the girl again while she was sitting on a bench with friends. Recorder Iqbal said: "Outside, you approached her again while she was minding her own business and no threat to you." Bielby provoked the girl, punched her in the face again, causing pain and swelling. When a man tried to intervene, Bielby punched him as well.
Recorder Iqbal described the offences as "mean, sustained offences against a girl" and noted that the victim was "particularly vulnerable because of her age, especially compared to yours." Bielby was drunk during the incident.
Impact on the Victim
The 17-year-old victim stated that she "felt terrified and scared" and was "overwhelmed by shock." She has been left anxious and worried to go outside. "It has affected my mental wellbeing," she said, adding that the assault caused her "trauma" and had a lasting impact.
Bielby's Criminal History
Bielby admitted assault causing actual bodily harm and another assault on the same date, as well as assaulting a man during the incident. She had 26 previous convictions, including eight assault-related matters and a "substantial history" of making threats. In April of the same year, she received a conditional caution for criminal damage and having an item for threats.
Recorder Iqbal told Bielby: "You have a history of using violence when it suits your purposes. The way you behaved, as you now accept, was entirely inexcusable."
Mitigation and Sentence
Amber Hobson, mitigating, said Bielby had an "unhappy record of violence" but made frank admissions to police early on. "This defendant is wracked with remorse. She has been inconsolable, having heard the devastation that her actions have wreaked. Her remorse is genuine. It's sincere and it's heartfelt," said Miss Hobson.
Bielby described her actions as a "foolish moment of what can only be described as 'madness'" and said she wanted to "ensure that there was no repetition of her behaviour ever again." She has two children and works three jobs.
Bielby was given an 18-month suspended prison sentence, 100 hours' unpaid work, and 20 days' rehabilitation. She was ordered to pay £1,000 compensation to the girl, £150 costs, and a £187 victims' surcharge. A five-year restraining order was also imposed.
