A heavily-pregnant woman has been fined for punching her sister-in-law in the face during a street brawl in Newport, while her partner drove his car into the victim and trapped her under the vehicle.
Cardiff Crown Court heard that the assault occurred on the morning of November 30, 2023, in the Malpas area of Newport. The complainant, Tilly Fielding, was walking with her sister Olivia from Oliphant Circle to the shops on Russell Drive when an argument broke out with Amy Pyart, who was on the balcony of her flat.
Verbal Argument Escalates into Violence
After the women continued towards the shops, another verbal row developed near the home of Pyart's mother. Miss Fielding kicked over a bin outside the property, an act she later apologised for. Shortly after she picked up the bin, Pyart arrived and punched her in the face.
The prosecutor, Marian Lewis, told the court that the victim believed the defendant was carrying a knife, but no blade was ever recovered and there was no evidence of one. Pyart's then-boyfriend, now husband, Leighton Pearce, then arrived at speed in his Audi, mounted the pavement, and struck Miss Fielding, forcing her into a hedge. Her legs became trapped under the vehicle, but she managed to free herself and escape.
Injuries and Family Tensions
The victim was left with bruising around her right eye and restricted movement in her right knee. The court heard the incident occurred in the context of a longstanding feud between members of the wider family. Pyart, aged 32, of Jeans Close, Malpas, Newport, pleaded guilty to affray and had no previous convictions. She was eight months pregnant at the time of the offence.
Andrew Taylor, defending, said his client was a mother-of-three expecting her fourth child. He explained that a falling out between Pyart and the Fielding sisters had led to the confrontation, and that Pyart had moved to make a fresh start away from the family.
Sentencing and Outcome
Recorder Barry Clarke noted long-standing tensions in the wider family that escalated into a volatile confrontation. He observed that the probation officer had struggled to find meaningful conditions for a community order and saw little merit in imposing one. Pyart was fined £200, with seven days in prison in default if she does not pay. As she left the dock, the recorder wished her luck with her pregnancy and expressed hope that she would not darken the doors of the court again.
Leighton Pearce, 37, had previously been fined £100 and received three penalty points on his licence after pleading guilty to careless driving in connection with the incident.
