Thug mother’s hate attack

GUILTY . . . Rooney

Drunken assault shame

A DRUNKEN mother who attacked a disfigured woman in an Oldham pub because she thought she was ugly, has been jailed for eight months.

Rachel Rooney (31) shouted abuse at her victim, 21-year-old Chantelle Richardson, who has suffered from a rare nasal condition from birth.

She then hit her on the nose — which could have caused an instant haemorrhage, and might even have proved fatal.

Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court was told yesterday that Miss Richardson rarely went out because of her condition.

She and three friends had gone for a quiet drink in the Commercial pub in Shaw on September 3, last year, having been told by her mother that she would be safe from ridicule.

Mark Kellett prosecuting, said sadly she wasn’t, so the group moved to The Weaver’s Arms.

The court was told that they were sitting quietly chatting, when company administrator Rooney, spotted Miss Richardson as she finished a karaoke song.

Mr Kellett said Miss Richardson, now 22, was awaiting surgery to rebuild her nose, and in addition, had a balloon inserted in her forehead to stretch the skin for use in an operation.

Rooney looked at her, then said to Lisa Duckworth with whom she was sitting: “Is your friend wearing a mask? Her face is disgusting.”

Ms Duckworth tried to intervene, but Rooney aimed a punch at Chantelle, hitting her on the nose.

It immediately began to bleed heavily, an ambulance was called, and she was taken to hospital. Mr Kellett said thankfully no serious injury was caused, but the consequences could have proved fatal. He said her condition — arteriovenous malformation — involved an irregular connection between high pressure arteries and low pressure veins in the nose. Trauma could lead to severe nose bleeding, and in turn cause severe or even fatal strokes. He said she had an obvious physical disability which had a significant psychological impact on her.

Mr Kellett said the attack was aggravated because her disability prompted hostility.

When arrested shortly afterwards, Rooney said to a police officer: “It was only a stupid argument. Can’t I go home, this is pathetic.”

Steve Sullivan defending, said his client, who has previous convictions including common assault and drink driving, now felt ashamed and embarrassed about what she had done.

He said she was a single parent who held down a full time job, while caring for a 12-year old son who suffers from ADHD.

To most people she presented herself as an “honest, industrious and law abiding member of the community, when sober.”

But he said in fact Rooney had a crutch to help her cope with her challenging role - alcohol, which she drank to excess.

He said she had for a long time refused to accept it was a problem, but had now done so, and was seeking help in addressing it.

Rooney of Capesthorne Drive, Shaw, who pleaded guilty to a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, was told by judge Peter Lakin: “This was an appalling offence.

“On this particular night you made quite unnecessary remarks about this lady’s face. You then for no good reason, aimed a blow at her, hitting her on the nose.”

He added: “You deliberately targeted her because of her deformity. I’m told you are disgusted with yourself - and so you should be.

“This is a very serious offence of its type, and must be met by an immediate custodial sentence.”

Crown Prosecution Service lawyer Rebecca Radcliffe said after the court hearing: “This was a completely unprovoked attack on a young woman who was simply minding her own business and enjoying the company of friends.

“In our view Rooney’s actions were clearly motivated by hostility towards Chantelle’s disability. As such, when this case was reviewed, it was identified as a disability hate crime: a crime perceived to be motivated by, or where there was a demonstration of hostility based on a persons disability.”

She added: “No-one should be subject to the violence and verbal abuse that Chantelle experienced.”

After the case Ms Richardson told the BBC: “Today’s result is an important one for me personally and for disfigured people in society.

“I hope this will be recognised as an example to others - it is unacceptable to bully, abuse and taunt people who look different.”



:: Chantelle features in C4 series Katie: My Beautiful Friends, starting on Tuesday night