Woman ambushed by love rival and friend

Three attackers drag victim from moving car and punch her in the head

A WOMAN was ambushed, dragged from a moving car and subjected to a brutal, sustained attack by three jealous females.

Victim Rosie Wells tried to crawl beneath her vehicle to escape the savage beating, but was dragged out again by her hair and repeatedly kicked in the mouth and head.

Her ordeal only ended when a passing car startled her attackers, allowing her to jump back into her vehicle and escape, leaving clumps of her hair behind.

In the dock at Reading Crown Court on Monday, April 25, were Holly Towell, aged 25, of Glebelands in Thatcham, and 21-year-old Rochelle Black, of Linden Close in Newbury.

Honor Fitzgerald, prosecuting, said the pair, plus an unnamed female accomplice, lay in wait for their victim before ambushing her as she drove in Oakley Road, Newbury, on July 12, 2020.

Towell opened the driver’s door while the vehicle was still moving and snarled: “You’re going to admit you ******* Simon”

before dragging her out with Black’s help.

Ms Wells fell to the ground beneath a rain of blows and tried to protect her face and head, the court heard.

Ms Fitzgerland said Towell “got down to her level and continued to punch her to the back and side of the head”.

Meanwhile Black held Ms Wells down while Towell kicked her in the mouth, splitting her lips open.

Ms Fitzgerland said: “Ms Wells tried to get back in her car but she was kicked to the ground.

“She then tried to crawl under the car, dropping her mobile phone.”

One of the women kicked it away from her reach then proceeded to smash it, the court heard.

Ms Wells was then dragged out from beneath the car by her hair, screaming in pain, while all three women continued the beating, said Ms Fitzgerald.

While this was going on, Towell broke off long enough to ring an unidentified male and gloat: “Your missus is getting beaten up right now,” the judge was told.

Eventually, said Ms Fitzgerland, another vehicle drove past, startling the attackers and giving Ms Wells a chance to crawl into her own vehicle and escape, leaving behind clumps of her hair.

Chillingly, the court heard, Towell had been seeking via Facebook to find Ms Wells’ home address.

In a victim impact statement, Ms Wells said she lived in fear that her tormentors would track her down in revenge for her co-operating with the police following the attack.

She said she feared for the safety of herself and her children and spent her life looking over her shoulder.

Because of her injuries, said Ms Wells, she lost a week’s wages and was upset for her children to see her battered and bloodied face.

Both Towell and Black admitted assault causing actual bodily harm.

Towell has a caution for possessing cannabis and Black has three cautions for offences of battery, the court heard.

Ann-Marie Talbot, defending both Towell and Black, said her clients were sorry for their actions that night.

They had both had too much to drink, she added.

Ms Talbot outlined the effect an immediate custodial sentence would have on her clients and pointed out that, notwithstanding any cautions, neither had any actual previous convictions.

Towell was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

Black was sentenced to six months imprisonment suspended for two years.

Towell was made subject to a curfew order and Black was ordered to complete 100 hours unpaid community work.

Both were made subject to a restraining order preventing them from contacting their victim either directly or indirectly.

The order will last indefinitely.

“Ann-Marie Talbot, defending both Towell and Black, said her clients were sorry for their actions that night. They had both had too much to drink, she added.