Swung by the hair in attack

A MOTHER and daughter beat up the partner of a relative – pushing her to the ground and swinging her around by the hair – all in front of a uniformed, on-duty police officer.

Liz and Rebecca Patterson left the woman with soft-tissues injuries and cuts to her face.

Liz, 62, and Rebecca, 35, both pleaded guilty in the Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday to assault occasioning bodily harm.

Magistrate Kerry Magee sentenced Liz Patterson to nine months’ prison, wholly suspended, and Rebecca Patterson to six months’ prison, wholly suspended. Each was ordered to pay $300 in compensation to the woman.

“You are both very fortunate the injuries were minor given the ferocity of the attack the police officer attests to,” Magistrate Magee said.

The court was told the pair went to a Southport unit complex on March 4 after their relative phoned to say he was being beaten up by his partner.

When they arrived and saw police, the Pattersons thought something may have happened to their relative.

They approached the police officer who said he was at the complex for another matter.

The women then spotted the relative’s partner walking down the street with food.

The court was told Liz Patterson, in full view of the police officer, pushed the woman into the wall and both began punching her.

The woman was grabbed by the hair and swung around.

“The presence of a police officer did not operate to moderate your behaviour in any way,” Magistrate Magee said.

“There is certainly a flagrancy to your behaviour.”

The court was told Rebecca Patterson was being treated for mental illness while Liz Patterson now had a condition that left her wheelchair bound.