Suzanne Blackburn, of Grasmere Crescent, Kendal, was sentenced at South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty to one offence of assault by beating.

Outlining the background to the offence, prosecutor Peter Kelly said the parties had known each other for six years but had a falling out around Christmas last year.

The court heard the complainant was picking her child up from school when the defendant – age 39 – asked her: ‘Why are you threatening my son?’

Reading the victim’s account to police into the court record, Mr Kelly outlined: “She (the defendant) punched me to the face striking me to the left cheek. She was swinging her arms around trying to hit me.

“I have had multiple operations on my face. I was scared she was going to damage it. My two-year-old child was screaming.”

The court heard a male witness said Blackburn ‘leathered’ the woman three times with punches. He said he could hear a child screaming ‘my mum, my mum, my mum’, Mr Kelly said.

The court was told there were a number of young children present in the area at the time.

Representing the defendant legally, solicitor Liza Phizacklea said: “There is a considerable background between the two parties. “It is something to take into consideration when making your decision.

“The defendant was collecting her son and some post from an address. The day before, there was a confrontation between the defendant’s son and the complainant.

“She was concerned for her son and felt worried about him going through that area without anyone present.

“As the complainant was approaching her, she was gesturing towards her. The defendant confronted her about the incident the previous day.

“There is a verbal argument and she has retaliated. Emotions were heightened and the defendant was very upset.”

Magistrates ordered Blackburn to complete 100 hours of unpaid work as part of a 12-month community order.

She was also told to pay £85 in court costs and a £114 victim surcharge.

Courtesy of The Westmorland Gazette | North Lancs