Moortown mum 'exploded with rage' and bit and scratched rival parent in front of children during attack at family barbecue after Facebook threats

A mum-of-three 'exploded into violence' and attacked a woman in front of her children at a family barbecue after subjecting her to threats and abuse on social media.
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Kirsty Milton bit into the victim's shoulder, pulled her hair, scratched her face and punched and kicked her during the attack in the garden of the house in Moortown.

Leeds Crown Court heard the background to the attack was a dispute between the two women after a fall out between their children.

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Milton, 29, carried out the attack on August 30 last year after "abuse and gossip on social media".

Queenshill Drive, MoortownQueenshill Drive, Moortown
Queenshill Drive, Moortown

The victim was enjoying a barbecue with her friends and family when Milton turned up at the property on Queenshill Avenue at 7.10pm and confronted her.

Danielle Gilmour, prosecuting, said Milton, who lives nearby, left but returned a short time later with her partner and ten other people.

Witnesses described how Milton walked down the garden path and lunged at the victim.

She grabbed her hair and pulled her to the ground.

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The victim tried to defend herself and also pulled Milton's hair.

During the struggle Milton pushed the woman against a wall and 'clawed' at her nose and face.

The woman tried to fight the defendant off, saying: "Kirsty get off me."

Milton bit into her shoulder, causing her skin to break.

She also grabbed the woman by the neck as people tried to pull her away.

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Ms Gilmour said Milton grabbed the victim's necklace which strangled her.

The woman was heard to say: "I can't breathe."

Milton taunted the woman as she continued the attack, saying: "Tell me you are going to cross the street when you see me."

The prosecutor said the attack took place in full view of the victim's children.

The woman managed to get up and took her children inside her home before contacting police.

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Officers were shown screen shots of threatening Facebook messages Milton had sent the woman prior to the attack.

There was also a voice recording of Milton saying she wanted to fight with her in the street.

The victim was taken to hospital by ambulance to be treated for her injuries.

Police went to Milton's home and she came out of a neighbouring property.

The defendant said to officers: "Are you here for me?"

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Milton, of Queenshill Drive, Moortown, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Probation officer Helen Nunns said the attack happened after an ongoing argument between the women over their children.

Ms Nunns said: "She takes full responsibility and deeply regrets her actions.

"So much so that after the incident she went to see a counsellor over anxiety and stress."

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"She did say she would deal with it differently. she lacked the skills to deal with it properly."

The court heard Milton has no drug or alcohol issues and had three children under the age of ten.

Judge Robin Mairs said: "What was astounding in this case was the sheer aggression in the posts that you put on social media, saying that you would fight with anyone, anywhere.

"You are now 29. You had a couple of fairly old convictions for common assault.

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"You have a stable home and you are financially secure and you ran the real risk of exploding that."

The judge continued: "You can't do this. Whatever the feelings between you and (the victim), and whatever went on through the kids, you exploded with rage and you went to her house on August 30.

"There was inevitably a dispute.

"Thankfully that calmed down and you went back home. But you went back.

"You exploded into violence.

"I have seen the bite marks on her back. That is what animals do.

"That is not how you resolve whatever problems you have.

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"This was done in the presence of her kids. They saw that. They saw their mum being beaten."

The judge told Milton he was not sending her to prison because of the impact it would have on her children.

He said: "It is to your credit that you have started counselling for the anger problems that are clearly there."

Milton was given a six-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.