Stunned Castleford woman beaten and bitten outside her home in case of mistaken identity
Victim was cleaning her car when she was attacked
A woman was punched, beaten and bitten as she cleaned her car outside of her home in a case of mistaken identity.
Alcoholic Nicole McGill sank her teeth into the woman’s leg during the horror attack, but was spared immediate custody at Leeds Crown Court this week, with the judge telling her he was “throwing her a lifeline”.
The 35-year-old has previous convictions for violence and biting and has served a jail sentence in the past.
The court heard that the victim had been clearing out her car, outside her Castleford home, shortly before 4pm on March 10 last year.
McGill approached her from behind and said: “What are you going to do now?”
McGill, who was a complete stranger to the victim, then punched her to the face twice.
In retaliation, the woman grabbed McGill by the hair and punched her back to protect herself, prosecutor Anthony Moore said.
She told her: “I do not know you.”
McGill, of School Street, Castleford, was arrested but claimed she had been attacked first. She was also taken to hospital where she lashed out and kicked a paramedic, although it was not thought to be intentional.
During her police interview, McGill refused to answer questions but Mr Moore said there was a “strong inference” that the wrong person had been attacked.
The victim was left with fear, anxiety and permanent scarring. She later shared photos of the bite mark on her leg from McGill with the Yorkshire Evening Post.
McGill later admitted charges of ABH and assault of an emergency worker. She has two previous convictions for GBH, and was handed a 30-month jail sentence in 2015.
Mitigating, Anna Boaden claimed there had been “limited planning” by McGill who had “not appreciated the purpose of going to that address that day”.
She added: “She deeply regrets her actions from that day. She does not have a clear memory of events but does accept culpability.”
She said McGill had a long history of reliance on alcohol, had childhood trauma issues and had been in an “incredibly violent and abusive relationship”.
Ms Boaden said McGill had now referred herself to the alcohol counselling service, Turning Point.
The judge, Recorder Sam Ward disagreed and said there was “significant planning” of the attack, despite the mistaken identity.
However, he accepted McGill’s remorse and pointed to the age of her previous violent offences.
He handed her a 16-month sentence suspended for two years, ordered her to complete 20 rehabilitation days with probation and a six-month alcohol treatment requirement.
She was also given a five-year restraining order to keep her away from the victim.
He warned her: “I have thrown you a lifeline.”
Speaking to the Evening Post after the sentencing, the victim said: “I respect the court’s decision, but I found the outcome difficult to understand. So much emphasis was placed on Nicole’s circumstances and rehabilitation, despite the serious impact her actions have had on others.
“I remain concerned about the risk of further offending and the safety of other members of the public.
“I also struggle to understand why her previous violent offending was considered less relevant because of the time that had passed, particularly given the seriousness of those previous offences.”