Mum-of-seven smashed pint glass over ex's head after he threw drink on puppy

A mum-of-seven from Warrington smashed a pint glass over her ex-boyfriend's head after a heated argument in a pub.

Linda Lee Gresley-Jones, 48, was involved in a violent altercation with her ex-boyfriend, Lee Fairhurst, at the Lower Angel pub on Buttermarket Street, Warrington, on July 15 2023. After a heated exchange where Fairhurst doused Gresley-Jones and a puppy she was holding with his drink, Gresley-Jones retaliated by smashing a pint glass over his head as he attempted to leave, inflicting a severe three-inch gash.

A witness described how the mother of seven seemed to immediately regret the assault, exclaiming: "I didn't mean to do that".

Gresley-Jones faced Liverpool Crown Court, admitting to the charge of grievous bodily harm, reports the Liverpool Echo.

The court learned that at the time of the attack, Gresley-Jones, who has an extensive criminal history with 28 previous convictions spanning 69 offences, was out on police bail for assaulting a teenager she thought was bullying her daughter, a crime for which she received a suspended sentence.

Her defence, led by Graham Roberts, characterised the incident as "a spontaneous act following a quite provocative act by Lee Fairhurst". He conveyed Gresley-Jones's remorse, stating: "She has admitted what she recognises is a very serious offence. She knows what she did was wrong and she is properly and profoundly and genuinely ashamed of acting in that way."

"She's a woman who has spent her life confronting various problems and challenges, and is now making a very enthusiastic attempt to rehabilitate herself. She grew up angry at what happened to her and this manifested itself in problems with anger management. She grew up in a culture where dishonesty was rife as people looked after themselves."

"She was self medicating with alcohol. It has caused her to have problems with her health. She has lost her children to care and it's contributed to her committing offences."

In court, it was revealed that Gresley-Jones had undergone alcohol detoxification at the Warrington-based Pathways To Recovery addiction rehabilitation centre, and she has recently been offered secretarial work.

Miss Recorder T. V. Griffiths, the judge presiding over the case, expressed scepticism towards Gresley-Jones' claims of finding employment, stating: "she had never worked before in her life". However, her future employer supported these claims.

Juding Miss Griffiths also said: "It's said you had difficulties in your upbringing which led to a chaotic lifestyle. It seems all seven children have been taken from you. You have anger issues and are impulsive. I have no doubt this offence was committed impulsively during an argument with your ex-partner in which he was acting provocatively."

Gresley-Jones, of Ullswater Avenue in Warrington, received a prison sentence of nine months, suspended for two years by Miss Griffiths. This punishment will run concurrently with her current suspended sentence for the assault on the 14 year old.

Promoting a sense of positivity towards Gresley-Jones, she commented: "It's a good chance. Take it. You won't get another one."

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