A 40-year-old grandmother attacked three strangers in a drunken rage whilst on an eight hour pub crawl until the early hours of the morning with her elderly mother.
Gemma McManus left one man with abdominal pains and his partner missing a clump of hair when she attacked the victims outside the Old Queens Head in Chester on January 12.
The chicken factory worker from Shotton, Chester, wrongly claimed she thought her mother was being assaulted and intervened. Later on, the grandmother admitted she needed to ‘grow up’.
The incident transpired after McManus had been boozing with her mother and stepmother at the tavern, after visiting others bars the previous evening.
McManus hit victim Peter Catherall ‘multiple times’ before she pulled some of Miss Lyn Derbyshire’s hair out as she attempted to grab her partner, the court was told.
Mr Catherall has a current hernia in his stomach and complained of abdominal pains – but did not go to hospital.
The grandmother also went on to lash out at Miss Ellie Johnson hitting her on the back during an altercation, however no injuries were caused, the court heard.
Scott Woodad, prosecuting, told the court: ‘Miss Derbyshire had clumps of hair pulled out of her head.
Gemma McManus (pictured) attacked three strangers in a drunken rage whilst on an eight hour pub crawl until the early hours of the morning with her elderly mother
She left one man with abdominal pains whilst pulling out a clump of hair from another victim after mistakenly believing the pair were arguing with her mother and stepfather
At Chester Magistrates Court, McManus pleaded guilty to common assault and was ordered to complete 100 bours unpaid work and pay £250 compensation.
‘The defendant was subsequently arrested by the officers at the scene. During the interview she admitted guilt and she apologised for her actions.’
In a statement Mr Catherall said he saw McManus approached and punched him in the face before pulling Miss Derbyshire’s hair.
‘All I remember next was being on the floor. I cannot remember much of what happened. I remember I was in great pain,’ he said.
In mitigation McManus’ lawyer Tony Birchall said: ‘The defendant described herself as a happy drunk but when she came out the pub there was an altercation going on outside. She believed that her mother was being assaulted and she became involved.
‘Most of it appears to be flailing her arms around and she had a go at the three individuals she had never met before. At the time she believed that they had assaulted her mother. I think the complainants had also been drinking – and it 2 am.
‘Her recollection will be hazy as a result of the drinking but she apologises through me for what has gone on. ‘
A probation officer who spoke to McManus said: ‘She does not attempt to justify her actions in any way at all.
‘The background is that the evening before about 6.30pm she had been with her mother and mother’s friend visiting public houses around Chester.’
The probation officer said the grandmother was not ‘heavily intoxicated’ and said McManus told her she had been drinking tonic water at most of the pubs due to acid reflux.
‘She did have a glass of wine and a vodka and Coke and one pint before the incident,’ the officer continued.
The probation worker said McManus was acting out of ‘concern’ for her mother and stepfather arguing with a group of people.
‘She fully admits her behaviour was totally inappropriate. She does not try to justify it. It was not intentional or pre-planned. It was more reckless,’ she said.
‘She describes herself as being extremely embarrassed by her actions and has demonstrated a very high level of victim empathy.’
At magistrates court McManus pleaded guilty to common assault and was ordered to complete 100 bours unpaid work and pay £250 compensation (pictured: Old Queen Head pub in Cheshire)
McManus recognised it would have have been a frightening experience for anyone else watching the incident, with people getting food and waiting for taxis nearby, according to the probation officer.
‘She described waking up in a cell in the morning and knowing that she is a grandmother and finding herself in a cell, her words were she needs to grow up,’ she added.
In sentencing Deputy District Judge Gerallt Jones ordered McManus to pay £100 in compensation to Mr Catherall and £100 to Miss Derbyshire and £50 to Miss Johnson. She was also made to £199 in costs and victim surcharge.
The judge told her: ‘This was a highly unpleasant incident but I accept your remorse and it is not going to be custody. ‘
McManus herself told the court: ‘I am embarrassed.’
