Teenage mum, 19 threatened other woman with knife

A TEENAGE mum attacked another woman while in possession of a knife and kicked at police officers following a row with her own mother.

Shanice Ross, 19, from Newport, appeared at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday for a “catalogue of offences” which included spitting at police officers and stealing from supermarkets.

The most serious offence involved an assault of Samantha Maisey on October 1, 2019, in which she used a knife to threaten her.

Sentencing, Recorder Greg Bull QC said: “I have to deal with you for a catalogue of offences some more serious than others.

“The most serious was you using a knife on another young woman. Were you an adult for that sort of offence you’d be looking at sentence of three years’ imprisonment.”

Prosecutor Christopher Evans told the court the next offence took place on November 7 last year when police were called to Ross’ mother Theresa Davies’ address over reports of an argument.

Ms Davies told the officers Ross had taken her phone and they saw the defendant running to the garden and hiding behind a shed.

She was arrested and became aggressive which resulted in her kicking an officer in the thigh. As she was taken to the police van she attempted to spit at her mother.

Another assault on a police officer took place on September 29 when Ross was arrested for an unrelated matter and was taken to Newport central police station in a police van.

Mr Evans said: “Whilst inside the van, Ms Ross asked for the door to be opened for fresh air and officers stood by the doors.

“She asked, ‘Why are you standing so close to me, you could catch Covid?’ She was warned not to spit but replied ‘I’ll spit if I want to and I’ll spit on you if I want. What are you going to f ****** do about it?’”

Ross was placed in a spit hood and attempted to kick officers before spitting at an officer. Her legs had to be strapped until “she calmed down”.

There were also offences of thefts from a shop when she stole £240 worth of items from Tesco in Spytty on June 13 last year with boyfriend John Ley, and on April 24 last year when she stole £55 worth of items from Sainsbury’s in Newport.

The defendant, of Walton Close, Alway, later pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, assault by beating, assaulting an emergency worker and theft.

In mitigation, defence barrister Harry Baker said his client was still young but despite her age she had a two-year-old daughter who she wished to be good example to.

Ross was sentenced to 16 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.