Woman hit love rival with bottle at King Charles’ model village
A WOMAN struck a love rival in the head with a stiletto shoe- shaped perfume bottle in a showdown in King Charles’ visionary village of Poundbury.
Jessica Baker, 20, was in a relationship with the ex-boyfriend of victim Amelia Duckworth when the two women got into a social media spat about him, a court heard.
Their rivalry heated up to the point where Baker met Miss Duckworth for a confrontation in a park in Poundbury, the self-efficient village owned by the Duchy of Cornwall near Dorchester, Dorset.
Baker, a mother of one, hid the Carolina Herrera designer perfume bottle behind her back.
A court heard she told Miss Duckworth: “I’m going to do you in” and then produced the glass bottle in the shape of a stiletto shoe. She lunged at her with it, hitting her twice on the head and slashing her face.
Miss Duckworth’s cousin took photos of the moment Baker attacked.The victim was covered in blood and concussed. Her boyfriend pressed his jumper to her head to slow the bleeding.
She was taken to hospital where she had stitches for a gash between her eyes and her scalp was glued. Baker appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court where she pleaded guilty to actual bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon.
Rob Griffiths, prosecuting, told the court how Baker met Miss Duckworth on the green in Poundbury in August 2021, intending to harm her.
He said: “It seems the ex had been telling the defendant about problems during his relationship with Miss Duckworth and the defendant contacted Miss Duckworth to take issue about it.”
That led to the women meeting and the attack.
In a victim impact statement Miss Duckworth said she was traumatised by the event and felt afraid to go out.
Judge Stephen Climie sentenced Baker to 12 months in prison suspended for two years.
She must pay a £156 victim surcharge and was given a twoyear restraining order.
The judge said: “Social media is a wonderful asset in society. There are some that say we do not adequately prepare your generation for its use.
“Learn to walk away – you don’t have to read everything.”
He also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the perfume bottle.