Court hears drunk gang joined in savage group attack over fling claims
A drunk gran who joined in a savage group attack on a woman she accused of having a fling with her partner has kept her freedom.
Victoria Harbertson and two other females were in the victim's garden when she got back from the shop in July 2023.
Newcastle Crown Court heard Hartbertson accused the woman of sleeping with her boyfriend before all three attackers pounced.
Prosecutor Joe Hedworth said: "All three started to attack her by repeatedly punching her head and face.
"The complainant recalls curling into a ball and putting her arms over her face to protect herself.
"She felt blood running down her face."The court heard Harbertson was heard saying "go on, go on" to one of the other attackers.
One of the others then picked up a mug and used it to hit the victim's forehead around five times.
The court heard the victim was left with lacerations to her forehead and a cut inside her lip which needed glued and stitched.
She said in an impact statement she was left "terrified" and scared to go out alone. Harbertson, 41, of Deleval Terrace, Blyth, Northumberland, admitted unlawful wounding.
Judge Tom Moran said: "You got drunk and went to the complainant's house to confront her.
"You accused the complainant of sleeping with your boyfriend then the three of you launched an assault on her, punching her to the head in her garden.
"She went to the ground and she was kicked repeatedly."One took a mug and started hitting her with it."
Judge Moran said Harbertson is now drink and drug free and sentenced her to 10 months suspended for two years with rehabilitation and alcohol abstinence requirements plus 150 hours unpaid work.
Mairi Clancy, defending, said Harbertson acted "completely out of character" and has never been in trouble before.
Miss Clancy said Harbertson, who has three children and two grandchildren, is "low risk".