Christina Emanuel burst into tears as she was spared jail after battering another mum in front of her children
Christina Emanuel outside Liverpool Crown Court(Image: Liverpool Echo)
A mum battered another woman in front of her kids in a pub beer garden. Christina Emanuel launched the brutal attack “with no warning” as her victim was putting shoes on her children’s feet, leaving her concussed and with two black eyes.
Her boyfriend meanwhile stopped other customers from breaking up the violence as he told them “let it happen”, with the incident having apparently followed “animosity and difficulties” between the two women. A judge yesterday told her to “think about her children” as she was ultimately spared jail after remarking: “None of this is impressive at all.”
Liverpool Crown Court heard yesterday, Wednesday May 13, that Merseyside Police were called to the Horse and Jockey pub in Melling on July 30 last year after receiving reports of an ongoing fight in the rear of the premises. Upon arrival at the scene, the victim, who the ECHO has chosen not to name, told officers she had been in the beer garden with her two young children when Emanuel “approached her and tried to talk to her about her ex-partner”.
Shannon Stewart, prosecuting, described how the complainant stated she did not wish to speak to the 41-year-old due to the presence of her kids, at which stage she believed the defendant had walked away. But, as she was then putting the youngsters’ shoes on, she was “smacked to the right side of her head from behind” in an incident captured on CCTV.
With the woman having been left slumped beside the bench where she had been sitting, Emanuel, of Cinema Drive in Wavertree, pulled her to the ground and proceeded to repeatedly punch her to the face shouting: “Are you happy now? Is this what you wanted?”
Emanuel’s partner, Joshua Balmer, was meanwhile said to have prevented onlookers from intervening, telling them “let it happen”. The 34-year-old, of Cherry Lane in Walton, will be sentenced by magistrates at a later date for an offence of assault in relation to his involvement.
The victim later attended Aintree Hospital after suffering a suspected concussion. She was also left experiencing migraines, dizziness and “serious bruising” to her face.
Christina Emanuel outside Liverpool Crown Court(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Emanuel has one previous conviction for four offences of assault in 2009. Peter White, defending the mum-of-five, told the court: “Clearly, there appears to be animosity and difficulties in the background.
“There has been 17 years of no offending whatsoever. She is adamant that she only attended initially to have a verbal altercation. Clearly, she has lost control to some degree.”
Mr White detailed how his client had been diagnosed with ADHD and suspected bipolar disorder and had not been taking her medication at the time, adding: “The court will see that she sadly suffered the loss of her brother in tragic circumstances fairly recently. She is back on her medication.
“This is a lady who, from a very young age, took on caring responsibilities for her mother and younger sister. Her mother has recently taken ill again and is reliant on Ms Emanuel for caring responsibilities.”
Emanuel admitted one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Appearing in the dock wearing a grey blazer over black clothing, she burst into tears and then sat hunched forwards after being handed a 12-month imprisonment suspended for 18 months.
Christina Emanuel outside Liverpool Crown Court(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Sentencing, the Honorary Recorder of Liverpool Judge Andrew Menary KC said: “She was doing nothing other than spending time with her children in the beer garden of the premises. You had been told that she was at the premises and quite deliberately made your way there with your partner.
“She declined to engage with you, explaining that her children were present. You walked away. She presumably thought the matter was at an end. You returned and, without warning, came from behind and struck her to the right side of the head, connecting with her eye.
“She slumped onto the bench, and you pulled her to the floor and carried on assaulting her. The CCTV shows clearly that she did nothing to encourage you, engage with you or provoke you. She was attacked from behind with no warning.
“Mr Balmer stood with his arms outstretched, preventing others from intervening, stating that they should ‘let it happen’. None of this is impressive at all.
“Fortunately, the only diagnosis was concussion. She subsequently experienced migraines and dizziness, two black eyes, some bruising and a burst blood vessel in her right eye. She told the officers that she was more worried about her children than herself at the time.
“Your partner was there and actively participating by preventing anyone from coming to her aid. She sustained injuries that required hospital attendance, including a CT scan, and had a number of modest but still unpleasant injuries as a result of this attack. All of this was in the presence of her children.
“This offence is out of character for you. You have experienced a life marked with considerable hardship and trauma. You took on a caring role for your mother from the age of six as result of her brain haemorrhage. You suffered severe domestic abuse.
“You have demonstrated genuine remorse. You acknowledge that your actions were wrong. You are particularly distressed that her children were present and witnessed what happened. You have described this as something which you will carry with you for a significant period of time.
“I accept that the mitigation is genuine and substantial. However, I must also bear in mind the gravity of the impact on the victim and her children. I am satisfied that, while there must be a prison sentence, I can, in all the circumstances, suspend that sentence.
“I hope you take advantage of the opportunity that you have been given. Keep on doing the good work that you have been doing. These are choices for you to make. Think about your children.”
Emanuel was also told to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 20 days. She was given a restraining order which will prevent her from contacting her victim for the next two years.