Woman pushed down stairwell in pub argument
A WOMAN has been spared jailed after pushing another drinker down a flight of stairs following an argument in a pub.
Amy Scott and Lindsay Patterson came together while out in Ashington, Northumberland, and for reasons that are unclear, there was tension between them.
Scott’s barrister claimed Miss Patterson was “offering her outside for a fight” and when they got to the top of the stairs, Scott pushed her in a “moment of madness”.
Newcastle Crown Court heard Miss Patterson, 33, suffered a fractured wrist that needed surgery and was knocked out by the fall.
Scott, 36, of Bothal Terrace, Ashington, pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm and was given a suspended prison sentence.
The court heard the attack happened on January 25 last year at the New Premier pub around 10.45pm.
Jolyon Perks, prosecuting, said: “The prosecution can say both women were in the process of a discussion on the upper floor of the pub and it appears the complainant beckoned the defendant to follow her out of the room through the door and downstairs.
“The complainant can be seen to walk towards the door, to open the door and stand at the top of the stairs immediately behind the door.
“At that point the defendant took off her shoes and walked towards the complainant and immediately pushed her from behind forcefully down the stairs.
“It’s not the case she was unaware of what she had done because after pushing her, she stood and watched as the complainant fell down the entire length of the stairwell.
“As she reached the bottom four steps, she lost her balance, pitched forward and struck her head on the floor. That rendered her unconscious and the momentum of her body broke her wrist.
“The defendant, who saw that happen, turned her back and went back to her friends and put her shoes back on.”
Mr Perks added: “We say she slyly pushed the complainant and she was not expecting it.”
After around 90 seconds, Scott went downstairs to where others had put Miss Patterson in the recovery position. She admitted responsibility at the scene, the court heard.
Miss Patterson, who sustained an “explosive fracture” to her wrist, had to have five months off work as a result.
She said she felt scared by what happened and was in a lot of pain.
Recorder Dapinder Singh QC sentenced Scott to eight months suspended for 12 months with 150 hours’ unpaid work and ordered her to pay £500 compensation.
Mark Harrison, defending, said there were references about Scott’s ordinarily good character and she has no previous convictions.
He added: “It’s her clear recollection she was involved in a discussion with the complainant and the CCTV makes it clear what was happening was the defendant was being offered outside for a fight.
“The defendant says her behaviour was born out of panic, having reached the top of the stairs and realising there were no door supervisors at the bottom of the stairs, as she had hoped.
“In a moment of madness, which she immediately regretted, she put her hands on the complainant and pushed her.
“I understand why my learned friend has used the word slyly but she doesn’t accept her behaviour was deliberate in terms of causing more injury.”
Mr Harrison said Scott, who is in fulltime employment, called an ambulance, although someone else already had and she waited outside with door supervisors.