Pair attacked customer in money dispute
TWO women beat up a customer outside a Neath town centre shop in a row over money, a court has heard.
Stacey Barnett and Victoria Mutu attacked the woman after coming across her in a Spar store, with Mutu hitting the victim about the head with a glass bottle.
A judge described the town centre incident as an “ugly brawl” which saw the defendants “lose any sense of dignity”.
David Singh, prosecuting, told Swansea Crown Court the incident took place outside the Spar shop on Neath’s Windsor Road on the morning of March 10 this year.
He said the defendants encountered their victim in the store where an argument involving the trio began, and then once outside the disagreement turned to violence.
Barnett grabbed and punched the woman, and Mutu joined in the assault by striking their victim a number of times to the head with the bottle she was holding. The court heard the bottle did not smash.
The defendants were arrested the follow day, with 37-year-old Barnett saying the woman owed her £500, and 27-year-old Mutu giving a “no comment” interview.
Stacey Louise Barnett of Heol y Felin, Caewern, Neath, and Victoria Ruby Mutu – who also goes by the name Jocelyn Brown – of the L&A Outdoor Centre in Goytre, Port Talbot, had both previously pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm when they appeared in the dock for sentencing.
Barnett has three previous convictions for four offences – all described as being “of some age”, while Mutu has 10 previous convictions for 27 offences including possession of a knife, and battery.
The court heard Mutu was out of prison on licence at the time of the assault following the earlier battery conviction, and after her arrest was recalled back to custody to serve the remainder of that sentence.
Giles Hayes, for Barnett, said his client is “no longer associating with people in Neath town centre” and is endeavouring to change her lifestyle. He said she had asked him to apologise to the court.
Connor Evans, for Mutu, said there was clearly “some animosity” between the parties involved in the disturbance, and he said the defendant “wants to put this matter behind her and move out of Port Talbot”.
Judge Paul Thomas QC described the incident outside the Spar as an “ugly brawl” which saw the defendants “lose any sense of dignity”.
With one third discounts for their guilty pleas Barnett was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to complete a rehabilitation course and nine-month drug treatment requirement.
Mutu was sentenced to eight months in prison. Mutu will serve up half that period in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community.
As she was sentenced, Mutu shouted out offensive remarks about her victim.
Speaking after the sentencing, South Wales Police sergeant Richard Jones said: “This was a particularly nasty incident, where the victim was subjected to an unprovoked attack from the two individuals concerned, one of whom struck her several times with a bottle.
“What was even more disturbing was that the attack took place during the daytime, on a busy town centre street, and would have no doubt have been witnessed by passing members of the public, who would have felt in fear.
“Such acts are totally unacceptable in society, and I sincerely hope the sentencing offers some sort of closure for the victim, and reassures the community that such acts will not go unpunished.”