Passer-by attacked over phone call

Melissa Parker booted the victim in the legs and a neighbour who dashed over to stop the violence ended up grazed.

Parker had been sitting in the garden of her home in Padiham, when the victim and another woman were going past, talking to each other and to someone on a mobile phone.

Parker thought the comments were directed at her and made one back before trouble erupted, Burnley magistrates were told.

The court was told the 29-year-old defendant had been offered a caution over the incident, on condition she paid £50 compensation and wrote letters of apology to the victim and the neighbours who intervened and attended four sessions at the Lancashire Women’s Centres. She had only paid half the compensation.

Parker, of Whitegate Close, admitted assault by beating on July 2nd and was ordered to pay £25 compensation.

Prosecutor Alex Mann said Parker was going to be dealt with by of a conditional caution, as she had no convictions at the time and had had “only three cautions” in the past. Several neighbours made statements to the police.

The defendant, who was not represented by a solicitor, told the bench: “I’m just sorry about the whole thing.”