Colette Bielby, a 39-year-old mother of two, has been sentenced for a vicious assault on a 17-year-old girl in a Hornsea bar, leaving the victim terrified and with lasting trauma. The attack occurred at a restaurant and cocktail bar in Hornsea, East Yorkshire, on November 22.
Details of the assault
Hull Crown Court heard that Bielby, of Trinity Road, Hornsea, approached the teenager and began interacting with her boyfriend, grinding against him. Recorder Abdul Iqbal KC stated that Bielby became aggressive and violent towards the girl, shoulder-barging her into the bar with force. The victim tried to defend herself, but Bielby punched her several times, causing her nose to bleed, and grabbed her hair, pulling out clumps from her scalp.
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 aggression outside
After being escorted outside by a man, Bielby approached the girl again while she was sitting on a bench. The court heard that Bielby shouted across to the group, then punched the girl in the face, causing pain and swelling. When a man intervened, Bielby also punched him.
Recorder Iqbal described the offences as "mean" and "sustained," noting the victim's vulnerability due to her age. He added: "You were drunk when you committed these offences."
Impact on the victim
The 17-year-old victim stated she "felt terrified and scared" during the attack and was "overwhelmed by shock." She reported feeling anxious and worried about going outside, saying: "It has affected my mental wellbeing." The assault caused her trauma and had a lasting impact.
Bielby's background and remorse
Bielby had 26 previous convictions, including eight assault-related matters and a substantial history of making threats. She received a conditional caution in April 2026 for criminal damage and possessing an item for threats. Recorder Iqbal remarked: "You have a history of using violence when it suits your purposes. The way you behaved, as you now accept, was entirely inexcusable."
Mitigating barrister Amber Hobson said Bielby made frank admissions to police early on and was "wracked with remorse." Hobson stated: "She has been inconsolable, having heard the devastation that her actions have wreaked. Her remorse is genuine. It's sincere and it's heartfelt." Bielby described the incident as a "foolish moment of madness" and expressed a desire to ensure no repetition. She is employed in three jobs and has two children.
Sentence
Bielby was given an 18-month suspended prison sentence, 100 hours of unpaid work, and 20 days of 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.
