Drunken woman thug locked up

AN OLDHAM woman who twice targeted vulnerable victims — one of whom she kicked so hard in a drunken rage that she fractured her pelvis — has been jailed for two and a half years.

Charlene Richardson (26), was already on bail for a burglary at the home of a disabled man who could only walk with the assistance of a Zimmer frame, when she carried out the violent assault in August last year.

She had been befriended by 69-year old Pauline Berry and her partner Trevor Smalley, who had invited her to share their home on Beechwood Road, Oldham as she had been homeless.

After a hard drinking session however she first lashed out at Mr Smalley who is in his 60s, then ran at Mrs Berry, head-butting her.

Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court was told that she then punched and kicked her victim, who collapsed in agony. The Royal Oldham Hospital found she had a fracture to the left side of her pelvis.

In a statement to police Mrs Berry, who was in hospital for three weeks, said now she can’t walk more than 10 steps without pain and suffers from severe depression.

She said “It has ruined my life.”

Rachel White, prosecuting, said Richardson, of Henshaw House, Cheapside, Oldham, had followed Mrs Berry to the hospital on August 14, the day of the incident, and had been overheard by nursing staff telling her to keep quiet about the assault.

She was prohibited from going near the couple’s home as part of new bail terms, but shortly afterwards defied the ban and returned.

The court was told that she had again been drunk, and had bitten one of Mr Smalley’s hands in a bid to steal his wallet containing £55. She then punched him in the head before taking the cash.

The robbery incident which pre-dated both offences, happened on June 19 last year when Richardson sneaked into the home of 56-year old Mr Billy Mullen in Ivy Street, Oldham.

Richardson, who pleaded guilty to charges of burglary, assault and robbery, was given eight months for the first offence, 15 months for the second, and seven months for robbery, all to run consecutively.

Alison Heyworth defending, said her client had no recollection of either of the incidents as she had been drinking 10 pints of lager a day.