Telford woman told she should be ashamed after social club assault
A 51-year-old Telford woman who launched a furious attack on another female at a social club has been told her behaviour should be a "matter of shame".
Sharon Bowen lost her temper at Hadley United Services and Village Club on September 22 last year, lunging at a woman and sending her through a toilet door.
She initially denied a charge of assault by beating, but later confessed after learning there was CCTV evidence of the attack.
Telford Magistrates Court heard how the victim was going to pick up her phone, which was on charge, when she walked past Bowen and words were exchanged.
Prosecutor Jim Mason said: "The victim was there with friends. The defendant thought she was being accused of stealing the victim's phone. She asked her to go outside.
"She then charged at her, grabbing her around the throat and pushing her back into the ladies toilets. The victim is a very slight young lady, around seven stone."
CCTV footage was then played in court showing the pair facing off outside the ladies toilets in what appeared to be heated disagreement. The victim was shown with her hands on her hips, and then leaning against a wall, while Bowen could be seen pointing and gesticulating towards her.
Scratches
Then, after a couple of minutes, Bowen lunged at the woman with both hands, sending her through the toilet door before following her in. Men were shown going in to stop the attack.
Mr Mason added that the victim suffered scratches to her neck and lost a toenail in the incident, and for a while after the incident was unable to sleep.
Bowen, of The Grove and Hadley Park Road, Telford, admitted assault by beating.
Shaun Davies, defending, said that she did plead guilty when she became aware there was evidence, but district judge Kevin Grego replied: "She knew what she'd done and that a statement had been made against her. Credit doesn't come from admitting guilt now because 'I know you can prove it against me'."
He told Bowen: "Usually cases like this involve lads in their late teens and early 20s who cannot control themselves through temper and drink. You have joined the ranks of such people. You now have lost your good character, and that should be a matter of shame for you."
She was ordered to pay her victim £300 in compensation, £200 in prosecution costs and was given a conditional discharge for 12 months.
