Belleek woman sentenced for assaulting Spar employee
Court heard how defendant had consumed quarter bottle of vodka on night offence took place
THERE has been a ten month suspended sentence handed down in the case of a Belleek woman whom Newry magistrates heard punched a retail worker on the head several times.Standing in the dock of the court for a sentencing hearing was Hannah Marriott (33) of Carrickananny Close , Belleek.
Marriot faced a single count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm dating back to June 7 of this year.The court would hear details of how on this date police received a report of an altercation that had taken place on the Spar situated on the Belfast Road in Newry.
Upon arriving at the scene police would come into contact with a store attendant who was displaying visible injured to her face and was emotionally upset.
The store attendant would explain to officers how whilst she was in the process of calling 999 regarding an altercation that was already taking place at the site when the defendant Marriot accosted her by punching her to the head several times and pulling her to the ground.
The court heard how this resulted in the complainant in the case sustaining a lump above her eye as well as a cut to her ear, with the court hearing how the store attendant had to be brought to Daisy Hill Hospital as a result of her level of injury.
Police would then view CCTV which would confirm the Injured parties account of events to be true having taken place at the front of the store.
Addressing the court a defence solicitor would explain how the actions Marriott engaged in on the morning of June 7 were as the result of her consuming alcohol.
"This was out of character. She is 33 and drank a quarter bottle of vodka at the time but she accepts fully that she was involved in the assault. She has five children and works as a care assistant and is the main carer of her children. This is just one incident and hopefully she will never be before the court again.
She is really embarrassed by her behaviour"After having read a victim impact statement provided to the court District Judge Natasha Fitzsimons would describe Marriott's actions on the morning of June 7 as "a very serious incident which had "a prolonged impact on the victim."
"This is a very serious incident. This was an unprovoked sustained attack on someone who was only doing their job. The victim sustained serious injuries.
The court can impose a custodial sentence and I believe the custodial threshold has been passed. Reading the victim impact statement the victim says this has had a prolonged effect on her and it is not just the injuries sustained on the night, it is the thing she had to go through emotionally since the offence."
Disposing of the case Judge Fitzsimons would impose upon Marriott a 10 month custodial sentence suspended for two years whilst ordering Marriott to pay compensation to the victim in the case to the value of £750 as well as implementing a restraining order for two years.