Woman’s sentence appeal is rejected

A woman who attacked a former friend after falling out during a Halloween Party has lost an appeal against her sentence.

Mum-of-two Jade Wood, 28, became furious after being kicked out of the get-together in October last year.

She returned to the house in Kennington and thumped the victim Lorraine Lee in front of shocked children, Canterbury Crown Court heard.

Wood of Towers View, Kennington admitted the assault after being arrested by police but then pleaded not guilty before magistrates.

She claimed she struck out in self-defence but this was rejected and she was jailed for six months.

After serving a week, she appealed the sentence – but a judge with two different magistrates threw out her claim that it was too harsh and rejected a call for it to be suspended.

The judge, Recorder Anthony Clover said that the attack had happened in front of children which was an aggravating factor.

“In our view we think she was lucky that the magistrates didn’t send her to the crown court for sentence where our sentencing powers are much greater, “he added.

Mark Davies, for the respondents, told the hearing how police had been called after an incident in the toilets during the evening.

Wood was ordered to leave but later the victim heard the doorbell being rung and thought it was the police returning.

“As soon as she opened the door, she was struck hard to the side of her face. She can’t say what she was struck with but she believes it was an object rather than a fist,” Mr Davies said.

“She was knocked to the floor, tried to defend herself but was knocked to the ground again.

“She remembers Wood being on top of her kneeling astride her and repeatedly hitting her face with her fist.

“She then blanked out as a neighbour pulled Wood away and she left the premises.”

The victim, who suffered bruises and cuts to her face and body, later told police: “She was supposed to be my friend!”

Jacob Gifford, for Wood, said it had been an unpleasant incident which happened after “everyone involved had drunk too much.”

Wood was also ordered to stay away from her victim until further notice.