By Staff Reporter

Last updated at 11:36, Wednesday, 14 November 2012

A woman who attacked her brother’s girlfriend when she arrived for a party at her Carlisle flat has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Shelley Purdie, 25, punched Julie Ann Smith twice in the face, leaving her dazed and bleeding with two broken teeth that will require extensive dental treatment.

No reason for the incident was given when Purdie appeared at the city’s Crown Court on a charge of causing actual bodily harm.

The court heard that on January 23 Ms Smith went to the flat in Flower Street in a taxi with Robert Purdie, Shelley Purdie’s brother, having been invited to a party there.

As she got out of the taxi Purdie came out of the house with two men and walked over to her as if to give her a hug.

But then, as the two men restrained Robert Purdie so he could do nothing to help, Shelley Purdie took a step back and struck her firmly twice in the face.

Ms Smith fell to the ground and needed treatment in hospital.

Purdie, who had previous convictions for battery and assaulting a police officer, pleaded guilty to causing her actual bodily harm.

She did so on a written basis, which said she had been “wary” of Ms Smith because of unspecified “difficulties in the past”.

Her barrister Keith Thomas told the court: “Her greatest punishment has been the fear of going to jail, which has been hanging over her for nine months.”

Judge Peter Hughes QC described the incident as “pretty nasty”.

He gave Purdie a six-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and put her under 12 months’ supervision by probation officers.

He said he could not order her to pay compensation to Ms Smith because she had no money.

First published at 11:35, Wednesday, 14 November 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk