Melissa Stafford struck ‘multiple blows’ during the confrontation
A woman was viciously attacked during a “prolonged and persistent” beating in which “multiple blows” were struck to her during a nasty “revenge attack” confrontation with two other women. The victim tried to walk away after the two women and a man who was with them accused her of stealing – but one of the women suddenly grabbed her hair and punched her on the back of her head, Hull Crown Court heard.
Melissa Stafford, 34, of St Mary’s Avenue, Selby, admitted assaulting the woman, causing actual bodily harm in Goole on June 28, 2020. She was originally due to face a trial but changed her plea. Lynne Bailey, 53, of Empson Avenue, Goole, admitted causing criminal damage to the woman’s mobile phone on the same day.
Harry Bradford, prosecuting, said that Stafford and Bailey knew the woman and she knew them too. She had met them about two weeks earlier after being introduced to them by her then partner.
At about 4pm on June 28, 2020, she left her flat in Goole to go shopping. She arrived in Edinburgh Street and saw Stafford and Bailey with a man.
The three of them accused the woman of stealing and she turned to walk away. The woman then felt someone grab her hair and punch her to the back of her head.
She saw that this was Stafford, who continued repeatedly punching her to the face, causing pain and a nosebleed. There was CCTV footage of the assault.
While Stafford was assaulting the woman, Bailey took hold of the victim’s mobile phone and repeatedly stamped on it, causing damage. Bailey admitted doing this. The court heard that the woman had since died.
Judge John Thackray KC said: “This was a disgraceful incident, as shown on CCTV. It was prolonged and persistent. There were multiple strikes.”
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If the court had been hearing the case shortly after the assault was committed, it was almost certain that Stafford would have been going to prison but there had been a delay in resolving the matter, said Judge Thackray. Stafford had previous convictions but she had not been in trouble since this incident.
The damage to the mobile phone by Bailey was a “mean-spirited offence” and it was a “revenge attack”. Bailey had no previous convictions.
Stafford was given an 18-month suspended prison sentence and 20 days’ rehabilitation. Bailey was given a one-year conditional discharge.
They both denied another offence of wounding the woman with intent to cause grievous bodily harm on July 2, 2020 but the prosecution dropped the charge.