A woman launched an attack on another resident after ambushing her inside a lift at the YMCA in Watford.
Emma Neal, 46, had a heated argument with the woman in the breakfast room at the hostel.
CCTV video from the lift, which was played at St Albans Crown Court today (Tuesday, March 7), showed Neal’s then partner holding the door open for the victim to enter.
Once she was inside and the doors closed, Neal attacked the woman causing cuts and bruising to her face and lip.“She kneed her in the head a number of times,” said prosecutor Martin Mulgrew.
Charges against the former boyfriend were dropped when the victim withdrew her statement.
The attack in the lift happened on April 4, 2021 at 8.30 in the morning.
Five months later, on September 23, 2021, Neal was drunk and became involved in a fight with man in Watford High Street at a quarter to eleven at night. The police were called and she drew blood when she bit an officer on the hand as he tried to handcuff her.
Then at 11 o’clock at night on October 29, 2021 she armed herself with a large kitchen knife and ran towards to men who were fighting in Whippendell Road, Watford. Neal was seen by two off-duty police officers and arrested.
Neal, of no fixed address, appeared for sentence having pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm, assault on an emergency worker and having a blade.
Defending, Dr Samar Sengupta said she was of previous good character and had not been in trouble since 2021.
He said she had serious mental health problems. In 2021 she had suffered family bereavements and had been treated for depression and anxiety.
Dr Sengupta said she was now engaging with the New Hope charity for homeless people.
Judge Richard Foster said drink had been the root cause of the offending. He said the attack in the life was an “ugly incident that was clearly pre-planned.”
He passed a 12-month jail sentence suspended for 18 months. She must carry out 25 rehabilitation days and attend a 6 months alcohol treatment programme.
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