Mum picked fight with her ‘goading’ neighbour
ONGOING DISPUTE ESCALATED TO VIOLENCE
A DISPUTE between two neighbours has landed one Bridlington woman with a community order and an abstinence order even though she came off worse in the fight.
Demi Heffernan, of Little Beck Road in Bridlington, had an ongoing dispute with a neighbour and charged around to the other property on the day of the offence.
Hull Magistrates’ Court heard that prior to the incident on August 12 this year she had been goaded about ongoing court matters relating to her children.
She appeared in court on Monday, November 1 having pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour with the intent to cause fear or provoke unlawful violence.
Despite her defence solicitor confirming she came off worse from the altercation, Heffernan was sentenced to a 12-month community order, 20 rehabilitation days, a 90-day abstinence order and costs and fines totalling £180.
Heffernan appeared before magistrates accused of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause that person to believe that immediate unlawful violence would be used against her by any person, or to provoke the immediate use of unlawful violence.
The court heard that the neighbour involved in the case was aware of other ongoing charges against Heffernan that are due to be dealt with in court next year.
The defendant appeared to have given in to goading on August 17 this year and went to the neighbouring property to confront the victim in this case.
In doing so, the mum-of-three landed herself in more hot water and made it worse by failing to surrender to the police after being bailed before her court appearance, the court heard.
Defence solicitor Robin Smith said: “Ms Heffernan has been under a lot of stress due to other ongoing matters.
“She has not always seen eye to eye with her neighbour and I’m afraid their relationship has not been good for a while.
“There has been a level of goading in relation to the other matters, on the day in question she has given in to that goading and gone to the home of the victim.
“She has taken out her frustrations, but the victim in this case was the one that came out better in the fight.
“As a result she (Heffernan) has only gotten herself into more trouble.”
Heffernan had previously pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to a 12-month community order and a 90-day abstinence order in relation to the consumption of alcohol.
She was also sentenced to 20 days of rehabilitation work and fines and costs totalling £180.
Heffernan will wear an electronic tag for the duration of her community order which will see her prohibited from visiting the neighbouring property and submitting to a curfew.
She will appear in court next March on other matters.