A SINGLE mother who left a woman with a smashed jaw after kicking her in the head has been spared immediate jail.
Sarah Chadwick’s victim Jessica White had to have a metal plate put in her face after she was struck repeatedly by the defendant. The victim may have escaped even more serious injury because her ex-heroin addict attacker was wearing training shoes, Burnley Crown Court heard.
Jobless Chadwick (32), mother of a four-year-old child, of Hollins Road, Nelson, had admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm. The defendant, who was sent to prison in 2003, was given 12 months in jail, suspended for 18 months, with 18 months supervision. She also received a 16-week, 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew and was ordered to pay £250 compensation.
Mr Martin Hackett, for Chadwick, said her behaviour was wholly out of character and she was, rightly, ashamed. She had previous convictions, but none for violence and had lost her temper and challenged the victim.
The defendant had been out of trouble for some time. She had become involved with heroin in the first place when she was struggling to come to terms with the aftermath of a serious assault.
Mr Hackett continued: “It would seem that this incident aside, this defendant is doing well. She is making progress and is now on a methadone reduction programme.”
Sentencing, Judge Jonathan Gibson told Chadwick: “Fortunately, you had training shoes on. If you had had heavier footwear on, you might have done even more damage.”
The judge said the defendant had no relevant previous convictions, the incident was isolated and Chadwick was remorseful about it.
Judge Gibson said he was very mindful of the fact Chadwick was a single parent and added she had shown real determination to address her addiction. Ordering compensation, he added: “Nobody deserves to be kicked in the way that you kicked Jessica White and nobody deserves to be injured in the way that you injured her.”