Pair avoid jail for attacking woman in queue for loos
A MUM and daughter avoided jail after attacking another woman in the queue for portable toilets at a music festival for tribute acts.
Receptionist Amanda Penberthy, 52, and her daughter Jade, 25, sparked a “battle of Portaloo” at Glastonbarry.
The festival for tribute acts is held in Barry, with bands on the line-up including Oasish and Stereotonics.
Victim Rebecca Johnson, 33, was left battered and bruised in the scrap as she queued to use the toilets.
Witnesses saw Jade Penberthy scream insults at Miss Johnson – calling her a “fat cow”, “goofy” and a “slag” before they clashed at the toilets.
Jade Penberthy smashed a can of Strongbow Dark Fruit into Miss Johnson’s mouth and the cider exploded in her face.
The court heard Amanda Penberthy then joined in to grab Miss Johnson before they were pulled apart by security.
A mass scuffle then broke out between the families of the three women.
Cardiff magistrates heard gym receptionist Amanda Penberthy jumped on top of Miss Johnson and straddled her on the muddy ground.
She then rained a series of punches down on Miss Johnson.
One eyewitness said: “I didn’t see how it started. As I walked closer I could see someone was on the floor with a female on top of them.
“The female on the floor had her hand over her face. The other female straddled across her punching her to the head.”
Festival steward Christian Williams said he found Miss Johnson “bruised” with blood coming from her mouth.
The court heard both families had been at “loggerheads” for 16 years and Miss Johnson had married Amanda Penberthy’s nephew Craig.
Both Penberthys denied assault – claiming they had acted in self defence – but were both found guilty.
District Judge Stephen Harmes handed both women a 12-month community order with 10 days of rehabilitation.
The women were also given a 12-month restraining order banning them from contacting Miss Johnson – which “would cover next year’s Glastonbarry festival.”
Judge Harmes said: “It is an extremely unfortunate circumstance between members of a family at extreme odds with each other over a long period of time. Amanda Penberthy you accepted that you should have got away from any problem and that would have been the wise thing to do.
“I would guess throughout these proceedings that you have been mostly concerned for your daughter but I found that she caused this at the start.
“This is a case where had you been in trouble before you could be going to custody now.”
Amanda Penberthy, of Peterswell Road, Barry, was ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work, pay £150 compensation, £300 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.
Jade Penberthy, from Westward Rise, Barry, was given a £750 fine, £150 compensation, £300 costs and a £75 victim surcharge.