Charlene Harkin was dragged to the ground by her ponytail and repeatedly kicked in the face by Jessica Kitching outside Willow Bank School which their children attend in Lancaster
The mum dragged to the ground by her ponytail before being booted in the face by a rival parent has spoken out following the ordeal.
Charlene Harkin, 37, said she experienced a “complete trauma” and had to take six months off work after Jessica Kitching, 25, attacked her outside the school their daughters attend. The pair were said to be pals, but they had a falling out during the holidays and tensions escalated by Willow Bank School in Lancaster.
Ms Harkin – known as Charlie – said: “This has been a complete trauma for all of us. I have had to pull my three kids out of that school because I never felt we were safe. I have had to take six months off work.”
Preston Crown Court heard Kitching followed her foe out of the school playground and grabbed her by the hair, dragging her to the ground and kneeling on her chest. She then repeatedly kicked her in the face.
The victim begged her, asking her to stop the vicious assault because they were outside the school and in front of children. The mother was shouting ‘I know where you live. I’ll f******g kill you’ as she was pulled away by another friend.
Speaking last night, Ms Harkin told Mail Online was worried Kitching would attack again following the shocking violence on September 21, 2023. Ms Harkin, who has three children, said she had to go to Lancaster Royal Infirmary with grazes and bruises to her face.
Doctors said they suspected a hairline fracture to her nose, however the woman did not attend a follow up appointment 10 days later as she said she felt a lot better, the court heard.
Kitching was given a suspended prison sentence at Preston Crown Court this week. Recorder Ayesha Siddiqi said there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation and Kitching’s child would suffer if her mother was sent to prison.
She handed down a sentence of 30 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, with 15 days rehabilitation activities and 60 hours of unpaid work in the community.
The judge said: “This happened near a school and in the presence of children. You were unable to control your behaviour in front of the children. She must have been terrified by being pulled to the floor and kicked by you.
“There was the use of a shod foot as a weapon. This offence is so serious and your behaviour that day was so unacceptable that only a custodial sentence can be justified. Your behaviour that day was appalling.”
Kitching, from Lancaster, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Defence lawyers said the attack was out of character for Kitching, who has no previous convictions.
