Mum thought she was going to die
TWINS BEAT HER AND STOLE HER £800 BAG IN CITY CENTRE ATTACK
A MUM thought she was going to die when twins targeted her for a “nasty attack” in the city centre.
Megan Ward, mother of a threeyear-old boy, said she was on antidepressants, had received counselling, and realised “how close my son was to not having a mother” after the attack outside The Cornerhouse on Forman Street.
She was giving evidence to Nottingham Magistrates’ court via a link from a witness room.
Twins Bryony and Alice Josie Richardson, 23, both pleaded not guilty to the assault.
Megan said she sustained injuries to her face and bruises to her body in the incident on September 19 last year.
She was also left “out of pocket” after her £800 designer bag was stolen in the assault.
She told the court that a “blonde girl punched me with her fist” and she had to defend herself.
After getting back on her feet, she realised that her expensive handbag was missing.
She managed to get home and called an ambulance.
Ms Ward said she suffered a “severe concussion”, alongside “severe swelling” to her face and bruising to her body.
The Richardson twins were caught on CCTV footage leaving Revolution on Forman Street with a few friends at around 3am.
Giving evidence, Bryony Richardson admitted that she was the first to “strike” against the victim “to defend myself”.
Represented by defence solicitor Jim Buckley, she described herself as a “bit tipsy” at the time, having had a number of drinks at the Lloyds Bar and Revolution.
She spotted a group fighting on Forman Street and decided to “stay out of the way because everyone was very aggressive”.
She added: “Some of my friends were trying to stop the fight.” She said she was approached by Ms Ward and “felt threatened by her” near the Theatre Royal.
She said she was “pulled to the floor” during the incident.
Alice Josie Richardson said she intervened to protect her sister and that she acted “out of instinct” and threw three kicks to seperate the two women who were on the floor at the time.
The CCTV footage shows the twins leaving the scene together, with Alice Richardson revealing a bag hidden underneath her skirt.
Another camera captured her dumping the bag in a waste bin.
She said she acted “out of character”, adding that she stole the bag “out of anger”. “I was really angry and upset”, she said.
She mentioned an incident involving their older sister who had been involved in a court case. Their family “got a big stick” for it, and had suffered abuse ever since, she claimed.
Represented by Sarah Green, she added: “I feel like I have been through a lot in the past few months. Watching your mum deteriorating is not nice.”
Tony Wilkinson, prosecuting, told the court: “Defendant Bryony, on her own admission, struck the first blow. That is very important. In relation to Alice, who would throw the bag in a bin if they did not intentionally steal it? Megan is a credible witness.
“In the police interview they exercised their right to remain silent. Someone who is innocent would shout their innocence from the rooftops.”
In a statement read out in open court, Ms Ward requested £3,828 in compensation. “I think the defendants should be made to pay for my loss,” it reads. Alice Josie Richardson, of Blake Road, Stapleford, was found guilty of assaulting Megan Ward by beating. She was also found guilty of theft, stealing a Gucci bag valued at £800, an iphone 12, house keys and car keys, and other personal belongings. Bryony Richardson, of Lime Grove, Stapleford, was also found guilty of assaulting Megan Ward by beating.
They were both unconditionally bailed and will be sentenced on August 12. Magistrate Roger Faulkner said: “You will be on probation. It is important that you attend all your appointments and be open with them. It is important that you do not commit any offences.”
I think the defendants should be made to pay for my loss
Megan Ward