Sisters attacked woman after row

Tammy Ward (24), of Mersey Street, and Catherine Ward (22), of Hazel Street, pleaded guilty to assaulting Rebeccah Smith at Bulwell bus station on Friday 8th November last year.

Nottingham Magistrates’ Court was told the sisters had heard from various people that Rebeccah had been spreading rumours about Tammy’s four-year-old son.

“Rebeccah was waiting at the bus station when she spotted Tammy, who came over to her,” said prosecutor Dan Pietryka.

“She was angry. Rebeccah denied saying anything, but Tammy punched her on the nose. She was in immediate pain and felt dazed.”

After Tammy had walked off, sister Catherine then went up to Rebeccah, said Mr Pietryka, and punched her on the left-hand side of her forehead.

Rebeccah went straight to the accident and emergency unit of the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham where she was treated for pain and discomfort.

When interviewed by police, the sisters said they punched Rebeccah after she refused to answer the rumour allegations and then spat in Tammy’s face.

“Tammy is adamant there was an element of provocation,” said Phil Plant (defending).

“She acted instinctively and impulsively. She is of previous good character, with no convictions or cautions.

“Her sister, Catherine, who has two young children of her own, felt a sense of moral outrage and weighed in.”

Tammy was given a community order of nine months and ordered to go to an attendance centre for 12 hours.

Catherine was given a community order of 12 months and ordered to attend an anger-managemrnt course for 13 sessions.

Each sister must pay compensation of £50 to Rebeccah Smith, court costs of £20 and a victim surcharge of £60. The magistrates ordered that the money be deducted from their benefits.