'Drunk, staggering and shoeless' women launched frenzied attack in Doncaster town centre

Kadyn Lloyd and Keren O'Brien were drunk, staggering and shoeless on Silver Street, when they began jeering at the pair as they hugged outside Biscuit Billy's pub, at 2.15am, on August 25, last year.

"They shouted words to the effect of - "Look at you and your grandad" and "Put her down grandad, can't you find someone of your own age?"" said prosecutor Zaiban Alam.

Lloyd ran towards the woman, grabbed her by the hair and started ragging her from side to side and pulling her around.

A witness saw both women punch and kick their female victim for several minutes, and said she "seemed to be fighting for her life."

When their victim got free, they followed her and continued the attack, kicking and punching her when she was on the floor.

Her male friend was bitten on the shoulder and punched in the face during the "scrum."

O'Brien was bitten on the ear and bleeding when police arrived at 2.25am, Ms Alam said.

In a statement, their female victim said she now "feels unsafe as if she could be attacked at any time," and had to attend her friend's funeral with a black eye.

Her male friend said: " Due to the comments made by the girls, I feel this was age-motivated and I am in fear of it happening again."

The defendants were both of statutory good character, the court heard.

Cheryl Dudley, mitigating, said Lloyd, a single mum and carer, didn't know about the proceedings until she was arrested at East Midlands Airport after returning from holiday.

"There has been no repetition of this behaviour since," she said. "She takes on board all the concerns the court has. She was shocked when she saw the video footage.

"She has not been out socially into the town centre. She has continued with a more productive lifestyle."

Rebecca Tanner, said O'Brien had been candid about what she did and deserved credit for her guilty plea.

"She was 18 at the time," she said. "She has grown up in the intervening period. She is contrite and suitably embarrassed and regretful of her behaviour. She certainly hasn't drunk to excess since the incident."

Both barristers urged the judge to suspend any sentence.

Lloyd, 23, of Parkhall Drive, Askern, and O'Brien, 19, of Briar Road, Skellow, both pleaded guilty to affray.

Judge Sarah Wright described the violence as "appalling" in what was "a serious and sustained attack" which caused fear and distress.

"I see no reason to distinguish between the two of you and you should both be thoroughly ashamed," she told them.

But because of the age of the case, the defendants' guilty pleas, and the prospect of rehabilitation, she handed them each a ten-month prison sentence, which will be suspended for one year, with 25 rehabilitation days.

Read the latest cases from Sheffield Crown Court here.

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