A woman used a metal crutch as a weapon in a surprise attack on her ex-partner’s new girlfriend and mother-in-law.
Stacey Lane got the hospital walker out of her car and used it to hit her love rival Shelly Kerr on the back.
When Shelly’s mother Paula Kerr tried to defend her daughter, her arm was broken from another blow with the crutch.
And when Shelly and Paula tried to drive away, Lane continued their attack and hit the front of the car with the crutch, the court heard.
READ MORE: 32-year thug for horrific attack on meat cleaver – and everyone says the same thing
The two women quarreled days before Ms. Kerr Lane’s former partner Michael Lyon was due to marry, the Liverpool Echo reported.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that 30-year-old Lane and Mr Lyon had two children, a boy and a girl, before their relationship broke up.
State attorney David Birrell said Mr Lyon later started seeing Shelly Kerr and they would get married in October 2019.
The altercation took place around 7:30 p.m. on October 8 of the same year after Shelly and Paula Kerr dropped Lane’s children at their home on Frankby Road, Newton, West Kirby.
Mr Birrell said Shelly Kerr recalled Lane “yelling aggressively” before Lane approached her.
He said, “As the defendant came up to her, she raised her right hand to block it and the e-cigarette she was holding hit the defendant on the forehead.”
Stacey Lane, 30, of Frankby Road, Newton, West Kirby, admitted quarreling
(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Mr Birrell said Lane went to her car and said something like “f ****** look at this” and “happy damn wedding week”.
He said Lane took “a metal hospital crutch” out of her car and then started “swinging” it at Shelly Kerr.
Mr. Birrell said, “Shelly Kerr backed away in fear. The defendant hit her – the blow was with the crutch on the back.
“The defendant pulled the crutch back to hit her again, held it with both hands and aimed at her head.”
The court heard Paula Kerr intervene at this point and yelled at Shelly Kerr to get back into her Audi.
Mr. Birrell said: “When the defendant struck a second blow with the crutch, Paula Kerr raised her arm to protect her daughter from the blow.
“The blow hit her arm and Paula Kerr felt immediate pain.
“She screamed, ‘You broke my arm!’ and it turned out later that she was right. “
Mr. Birrell said Shelly and Paula Kerr got back in their car, but as they drove away Lane started banging the front of the Audi with the crutch.
Both parties called the police and Paula Kerr went to Southport Hospital, where an x-ray showed that her styloid bone – where the forearm meets the wrist – was broken, which meant her arm had to be placed in a band-aid.
It’s important to know what’s going on and what the police and criminal justice systems are doing about it.
Get the latest crime news and litigation information in our daily BirminghamLive newsletter.
How do I sign up?
First just click on this link to our newsletter registration center.
When you’re there, enter your email address above and check the box below for Birmingham Daily News Updates. Other newsletters are also available if you wish.
When you’ve made your choices, click the Save Changes button below.
Photos showed bruises on Shelly Kerr’s back, as well as dents and paint damage on her Audi, which cost £ 1,800 to repair.
Mr Birrell said, “The defendant sent abusive texts to Shelly Kerr just before 8 p.m. … the messages contained threats to ruin the wedding.”
Lane was originally charged with attacking Paula Kerr, actually injuring her, attacking Shelly Kerr, criminally harming the Audi, possessing an offensive weapon – the crutch – in public, and conducting malicious communications.
However, she pleaded guilty to a trial because prosecutors accepted a plea that dropped the other allegations.
Mr Birrell said she had previously been convicted of property damage, which “may be relevant” as it was referring to a Mr Lyon’s car.
Jamie Baxter, who defended, said prosecutors have now accepted that Ms. Kerr hit the lane first, which “retaliated”.
He said: “She started in self-defense or out of fear of violence, which of course was not a defense that was accepted by her plea.”
Mr Baxter said Lane had “complete justification” for wearing the crutch because she had fibromyalgia.
He said, “Your actions have been retaliation, albeit illegal and excessive retaliation in the circumstances.”
The attorney said Lane is a single mother who works 30 hours a week and detention would have “significantly harmful effects” on her two children.
Mr Baxter said Lane was now having “good conversations” with Mr Lyon, that they were managing contact with children “without the need for a family court” and that Lane and Mrs Kerr were no longer willing to speak to each other.
Judge Anil Murray said he would treat Lane as if he had no relevant criminal record.
He said she pleaded guilty to beating herself on the basis of reacting or resisting being hit first, adding, “This was a family argument and you reacted and actually overreacted by doing the.” Hit the complainant with a crutch. “
The judge said Paula Kerr was inflicted “serious harm” because her arm was broken and “the crutch was clearly used as a weapon,” but Lane acted “out of retaliation and also out of fear.”
He said it happened two years ago, Lane has not been in trouble since, and in a pre-judgment report she expressed remorse.
Judge Murray said, “You are appalled that you hurt the applicant.”
Days before her ex-boyfriend’s wedding, Stacey Lane broke the mother of the bride’s arm with a metal crutch
(Image: Liverpool Echo)
He added, “You are the primary caregiver for two children and you work. You have some mental health problems, have little risk of relapsing and causing serious harm, and you have no previous poor compliance with supervision. “
The judge said, “I accept that you have severe personal degradation, that this would affect others, that you pose no risk to others and that you have a prospect of rehabilitation.”
He handed Lane nine months in prison, suspended for 18 months, with 75 hours of unpaid work.
The judge issued a three-year restraining order to protect Shelly and Paula Kerr.
We send up-to-date information on courts and crime directly to our e-mail inbox every day – register here.
