A YOUNG Powys mum has escaped a jail sentence for attacking a retired woman in her bed at a pub – after finding her partner in bed with the victim.
Sammy-Jo Ann Harris, 27, slammed the door of the victim’s room repeatedly against her head, inflicting an injury on her eye which required surgery.
The attack, at the Mid Wales Inn in Pantydwr, near Rhayader, came after Harris’ partner drunkenly wandered into the victim’s bedroom.
Harris, of Cwmdifwg, St Harmon, previously admitted assault, occasioning actual bodily harm over the incident on July 3, 2021. She was sentenced for other offences committed on that evening in March 2022.
Prosecutor James Sprunks said the victim in the case was 64 at the time. “The assault occurred in the early hours,” said Mr Sprunks.
“The defendant pushed the victim to the floor and repeatedly and routinely opened the room door on her head. There was significant bruising and trauma to her eye.
“A lump appeared inside her eye and she underwent surgery. The parties were not known to each other.”
The victim had gone to the pub to watch a band play on the Friday night, July 2, 2021.
“She was staying in the Green Room. After the band finished playing she went to bed, around 11.40pm, and went to sleep.
“CCTV footage showed a male walking along the corridor, obviously quite drunk. He walked into the victim’s room.
“The next thing she remembered was waking up with a lot of people in the room, including police and a barmaid. She didn’t remember what happened.”
Mr Sprunks said barmaid Tracy McClean heard a female screaming and went to investigate. “She saw the defendant slamming the door on the victim’s head,” said Mr Sprunks.
“The defendant said ‘She was trying to s**g my boyfriend’. The defendant’s boyfriend said ‘I don’t know what I’m doing in here’."
The victim underwent an operation in September 2021 where a lesion was removed.
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Huw Williams, representing Harris, said she was a very different person today from the woman who committed the assault – having become a mother.
“I don’t know why it’s taken over two-and-a-half years to bring this matter to court,” he said.
“All the evidence was available from the CCTV. In March 2022 she was sentenced for a common assault on her partner and being drunk in charge of a vehicle – which both occurred on the same night. This should have been dealt with a long time ago.
“It was clearly a nasty incident, but she’s moved on considerably from the lady that committed this offence."
Mr Williams added: “A custodial sentence would have more of an impact on her family rather than her.
“With the help of her parents she will gladly and willingly pay compensation to the victim.”
Magistrates handed Harris a 20-week prison sentence, but suspended it for 12 months. She must complete 20 rehabilitation activity days and was ordered to pay her victim £1,000 in compensation.
Lorna Jones, chair of the bench, told her: “The door was used as a weapon, it was a repeated assault, causing unpleasant injuries.
“We take into account the delay and your guilty plea, which is both unfair on you and your victim.
“We take into account you have moved on with your life and have kept out of trouble. For these reasons we are imposing a suspended sentence.”
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