Mrs Riley was punched in the face by 40-year-old neighbour Nicolette Golessa as she tried to stop Golessa and a 14-year-old youth from attacking her husband Edward with bricks and sticks.

The force of Golessa’s punch knocked Mrs Riley to the ground and yesterday, Telford magistrates found her guilty of assault.

Golessa had admitted assaulting Edward Riley, causing him actual bodily harm, earlier in her two day trial and yesterday the youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found guilty of assaulting Mr Riley, causing him actual bodily harm.

The court heard that Mr and Mrs Riley had both been taken to hospital after the attack outside Golessa’s home in Highway View on August 4, 2005.

Golessa has since been evicted from the property.

She told the court yesterday that she was sorry for what she had done but that she had lunged out because she was afraid for her own safety.

She said: “Everything just went really quickly, she stepped out and I said do you want some of it and I punched her and I’m sorry about it.

“I had no reason to hit her, I just lost my temper with her.”

The court heard Golessa, now of Woodbridge Inn, Coalport, had a “very tense” relationship with her neighbours and was worried about an impending court hearing about her tenancy at the time of the incident.

The youth claimed he was trying to protect Golessa by hitting Mr Riley repeatedly with a foot-long plank of wood.

The case was adjourned for reports to be prepared and magistrates warned Golessa they were not ruling out any sentencing options, including prison.

Golessa is due to be sentenced on October 27 and the youth on October 20.

By Deborah Collins

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