Drunk mum broke pregnant friend’s eye socket and assaulted infants at kids' party
A drunk mum who broke her pregnant friend’s eye socket and assaulted two infants at a children’s party has avoided jail.
Rachel Carter, 32, flew “over the heads” of horrified, screaming children to attack Jade Huckstep when the gathering at Ramsgate erupted into violence in March last year.
Carter barged past two children, causing common assault, to set upon her victim.
At one point in the fight, Carter had Ms Huckstep on the floor, punching and kicking her, Canterbury Crown Court heard.
A neighbour filmed the altercation through their keyhole as the fight spilled onto the landing and a child tried to stop the violence.
The footage showed the pair brawling on the landing with the word “tramp” being screamed and children can be heard crying.
Ms Huckstep suffered a fractured eye socket, bruises and swelling, the court heard.
Carter pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm and two counts of common assault, which relate to the two children she pushed past and she received a two-year suspended sentence.
Judge Simon James told Carter: “You became involved in an argument with your former friend who you knew was in the early stages of pregnancy.
“It is clear things descended into a physical altercation with you two mothers exchanging punches.
“Outside, you can both be seen screaming insults at each other, seemingly oblivious to the impact that had on the children around you.
“You pushed children out of the way so you could continue to prosecute your assault. You were both drunk and behaving like children – the footage is extraordinary and you should hang your head in shame.”
Judge James said he would suspend Carter’s sentence as an “act of mercy”, so her own children would not go without a mum.
She must also complete a 40-day rehabilitation activity with probation.
Carter, who has previous assault convictions, appeared visibly distressed in the dock and was supported by friends in the public gallery.
Her barrister Tom Worden said there was a “significant degree of provocation involved, there was significant verbal abuse in the lead up to this incident”.
He also said that Carter, of Margate, was working to address an alcohol problem and hopes to train as a barber.