Pregnant mother feared for baby after attack by partner's ex in Ferryhill (From The Northern Echo)
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Court hears pair landed on chemist floor after victim grabbed by hair
6:00am Monday 11th March 2013 in News By Duncan Leatherdale
A PREGNANT mother feared she would lose her baby after being attacked in front of her children by a love rival in a County Durham chemist, a court has heard.
While admitting assault, Samantha Ridley said she had no idea her ex-partner’s new girlfriend was five weeks pregnant when she attacked her in Boots in Ferryhill on February 21.
Prosecutor John Garside said the victim was with her two children, aged two and four, outside the chemist at about 10.30am when Ridley, 27, of Stephenson Street in the town approached her.
The court heard that both women have two children by the same man who is now in a relationship with the victim and there had been ill feeling.
Mr Garside said the victim told Ridley not to attack her as she was pregnant and had her two children with her, to which Ridley replied: “I’m not f*****g bothered.”
The prosecutor said Ridley then grabbed her victim by the hair and raked her fingernails across the woman’s face before the pair fell into the chemist shop and landed on the floor.
A shopworker attempted to separate the pair and as the victim got up Ridley kicked out at her stomach, Mr Garside said.
The prosecutor said the victim managed to block the kick, but said had it connected she feared she would lose the baby.
Graham Silvester, in mitigation, said Ridley denied kicking towards the woman and maintained that she had no idea the victim was pregnant.
In a statement read to the court by Mr Garside, Ridley’s victim said she was terrified she would lose her baby.
The victim said: “I was terrified not only for myself and unborn child, but my two children who were screaming in fear.
“It is a disgrace that my children should see their mother being assaulted in the street.”
Mr Silvester said his client, who has no previous convictions, regrets attacking the woman, but said she was provoked after her victim called her 'a slag'.
Magistrates said it was a serious assault, but gave Ridley a conditional discharge for six months and ordered her to pay £50 compensation.
She must also pay £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.
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