AFTER being found guilty of two assaults the day previously, Charlotte Whelton appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (Jan 19) for sentencing.
Ellie Morgan, prosecuting, told the court that a 17-year-old girl and her sister were in the toilets of Eddie’s Nightclub with their friends on September 12 when they were assaulted by 27-yearold Whelton from Leven Close in Hook.
On the night, Whelton had barged into the complainant’s friend in the toilets and the 17-year-old victim said, “Please don’t push, say excuse me.”
“The defendant took umbrage with this and grabbed the young girl by the throat and pushed her into the wall,” said Ms Morgan.
The older sister tried to get Whelton off the young complainant, but the defendant did not let go of her younger sister’s throat.
The defendant beat off the older victim, who was shouting “Stop, let her go, she’s got asthma” repeatedly, leaving her arms covered in bruises.
Whelton also grabbed at the older victims hair, pulling her forward, but she stayed on her feet.
The younger complainant was described as going purple and red in the face by the older sister and their friends.
When Whelton finally let go of the younger girl’s throat, she slid down the wall.
One of the friends said that the complainant’s eyes rolled into the back of her head. She had lost consciousness.
The victim came around to see bouncers, the police and paramedics, while the defendant was pursued by bouncers.
At her trial on Monday (Jan 18), Whelton denied assaulting both of the girls, but she was found guilty by Magistrates.
Julie Norman of the probation service suggested that Magistrates should sentence Whelton to a high level community order.
She said that Whelton troubles the court very little and explained that the defendant maintains her not guilty plea and denies causing any injury.
Ms Norman told the court that Whelton lives alone as a single parent to two young children.
Mark Layton, defending Whelton, said that he believed that his client should be issued a suspended sentence instead of a community order due to the seriousness of the crime, commenting that it crosses the custody threshold.
“My client is clearly disappointed to be found guilty, but she accepts the courts findings and bears no animosity towards the complainants. We will not be appealing,” said Mr Layton.
Magistrates said that they were looking upon the offence very seriously and sentenced Whelton to an immediate 12 weeks in prison.
She will have to pay £620 in prosecution costs and an £80 victim surcharge. The younger complainant was awarded compensation of £150 and the older victim was awarded £50.
Mr Layton told the court that he and his client would be appealing the sentence and asked for bail pending the appeal.
He said that he was appealing the case due to the rights of Whelton’s children and commented that sending a single mother to prison should be a “last resort.”
Magistrates granted unconditional bail pending Mr Layton’s appeal.
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