Mum, 34, broke woman’s nose with a headbutt
A MUM of three broke a woman’s nose with a headbutt following a row over alleged vandalism.
Stacey Withey, from Ynysawdre, near Bridgend, attacked the victim while under “significant stress” over tens of thousands of pounds’ worth of damage to her business, Cardiff Magistrates’ Court heard.
The 34-year-old assaulted Gemma Thomas on April 4 last year in Jubilee Crescent, Sarn.
Prosecutor Lucy Mansfield said: “It was a neighbourhood dispute.
“The defendant has headbutted Ms Thomas, causing a broken nose.”
Withey, who has three children aged between two and 14, pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm (ABH).
James Harris, mitigating, told the court there was “a bit of history to this”.
He said: “Ms Withey was one of the directors of a scaffolding business with her partner.
“Over the months leading up to and following this offence there was a series of incidents at her works yard where tens of thousands of pounds’ worth of damage were caused to her company property.”
The solicitor said Withey reviewed CCTV footage and identified the youngsters who were responsible for the damage.
She contacted their parents who were in most cases “mortified” to learn of their children’s actions, the court heard.
Withey, who believed Ms Thomas’ son was one of the youths involved, tried to speak with Ms Thomas but found her “not forthcoming”.
The two women then “bumped into each other” in the street, said Mr Harris.
He added: “Ms Withey accepts there was a back and forth and accepts she lost her temper.
“Unfortunately she very much felt Ms Thomas was ignoring or denying everything on behalf of her son. “The defendant snapped.”
The solicitor described his client’s headbutt as a “single blow”.
He said she had been under “significant stress” due to the damage to her property as well as an upcoming double mastectomy.
She also faces a stomach operation and has bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, and depression.
Withey has five previous offences on her record with the most recent a 2018 battery.
Mr Harris pointed out his client pleaded guilty to the ABH against Ms Thomas at the earliest opportunity.
Presiding Justice Nigel Buckland imposed a 16-week jail term suspended for 18 months.
He said the custody threshold was passed because of the “element of planning” by the defendant, who “used her head as a weapon”.
But he said it was right to suspend the sentence because of the “realistic prospect” of rehabilitation and the three children who depend on Withey. He also noted she had previously complied with court orders.
Mr Buckland ordered the defendant to complete 26 days of rehabilitation. Withey will not have to pay prosecution costs or a victim services surcharge but she must pay compensation of £250 to Ms Thomas.
Before she left the dock, Withey told the magistrates: “You won’t see me again.”