Hartlepool woman jailed for attacking love rival who moved in with husband after release from prison

Katrina Turner, 36, met the victim while they were both in prison and allowed her to stay with her husband in Hartlepool when she was released.

But the two began a relationship and just three weeks after Turner was released from jail in July last year, Turner attacked her.

Teesside Crown Court heard a third woman was at the house in Rydal Street and started to assault the victim first when Turner barged inside.

Jane Foley, prosecuting said: “She began to assault [the victim] by punching her to the face causing injury to her lip and reddening and swelling to her temple as well as loosening of one of the front teeth.

"After falling to the floor [the victim] was further assaulted when the defendant began hitting her causing injury by way of swelling and bruising to the front and back of her head.”

Miss Foley said that was quickly followed up by repeated blows to the victim’s body causing more bruising.

“The defendant and other woman present left the scene after hearing the sound of police sirens,” added Miss Foley.

Turner, of Waldon Street, Hartlepool, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

She was on licence at the time after being released from a 32-month jail sentence for attempted robbery.

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Stephen Constantine, defending, said in mitigation that Turner took pity on the victim in prison not expecting her to begin a relationship with her husband of 14 years.

He said: “She (Turner) wasn’t there in order to engineer any confrontation. It was an impulsive act.

"This particular offence was borne out of very unusual circumstances and arguably with no small degree of events which could be described as provocative.”

Mr Constantine said he understood the victim was not in a relationship with Turner’s husband anymore and the two women have made their peace.

Judge Stephen Ashurst said it was a ‘nasty’ assault. He told Turner: "It seems clear you were unable to cope with those mixed emotions but you could have avoided violence and what you did I’m afraid was entirely unnecessary and it was a sustained assault.”

Turner was jailed for eight months.

More crime news: 17 of the toughest jail terms given to Hartlepool people in 2020

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