Woman punched in the face in Telford parking space row

Teresa Maxfield was treated by paramedics after fainting following the attack by Emma Sherborne on June 18 last year.

Telford Magistrates Court heard that trouble started when Sherborne, 31, had threatened Mrs Maxfield's mother, Jillian Thomas, 72, as she parked her car in a community car park in Priorslee Road.

Later Sherborne went on to attack Mrs Maxfield as she visited Mrs Thomas.

Sherborne, of Priorslee Road, Snedshill, Telford, had previously denied two charges of causing criminal damage, two charges of harassment and one charge of assault by beating.

She failed to appear in court on Monday and was tried in her absence.

Witness Deborah Phillips told the court she watched as Sherborne threatened Mrs Thomas.

"She said if she put her car on there she will 'do' her car, her windscreen and her tyres," she told the court.

Mrs Phillips said that, in a separate incident, she had seen Sherborne take a bag of dog excrement and smear it on Mrs Thomas's car.

Mrs Thomas drove off and parked on a friend's driveway, said Mrs Phillips, who then walked her back to her house. When they arrived they found the trellis at the front was broken and they could hear banging and shouting.

Mrs Phillips said a neighbour had warned them that Sherborne and her partner John Murray had been seen going round the back of Mrs Thomas's house.

The court was told Sherborne and Murray later returned carrying blocks of concrete. They then scraped them along the side of two cars belonging to Teresa and Alan Maxfield.

Mrs Phillips said Mr Maxfield had run out to remonstrate with the couple and was attackedby them.

When Mrs Maxfield came out to help her husband, Mrs Phillips said Sherborne punched her on the jaw. Mrs Phillips said Mrs Maxfield was stunned.

When police officers arrived on the scene they were directed towards the home of Sherborne and Murray who they "had numerous previous dealings with". Officers described them as "drunk, unsteady on their feet and slurring their words".

Magistrates found Sherborne guilty on two counts of criminal damage relating to the two cars and one of harassment relating to the excrement. She was found not guilty on a second charge of harassment.

A warrant was issued for her arrest.

Murray, of Blakemore, Telford, was given a conditional discharge after admitting criminal damage.