Woman knocked out man with single blow and fractured his skull after he verbally abused her at taxi rank on New Year's Eve

Lauren McGill lashed out at the man after he shouted "s**g" at her and hurled a shoe in her direction as they waited in the taxi queue on Finkle Street, in Pontefract.

McGill admitted a charge of grievous bodily harm after he suffered a fractured skull from the punch and was knocked unconscious on the pavement.

Leeds Crown Court heard McGill had been celebrating New Year's Eve in 2019 with friends in the town centre and that the man was a friend of a friend.

Elizabth Noble, prosecuting, said both had been drinking in pubs and clubs.

At one point the man was heard lewdly asking which female he would be going home with.

When the group got to the taxi rank in the early hours of the morning to head home, the prosecution said that he became aggressive and shouted at the females.

He was told to go away but refused.

One of the group had been carrying his girlfriend's shoes and the man grabbed them and threw them at McGill, saying "You are going to get it".

At that point she threw the punch at him and he fell to the floor unconscious and bleeding.

The defendant was immediately concerned and an ambulance was called.

He was taken to Pinderfields Hospital but later discharged himself.

Ms Noble said he had to return to hospital later suffering with headaches and vomiting.

A scan found he had a fractured skull and four bleeds to the brain. He also had bruising to his face and a bust lip.

During interview with police, McGill, of Falcon Drive, Castleford, fully accepted responsibility for her actions.

A probation report into the furloughed pub worker found her to be remorseful.

Mitigating, Frances Pencheon added: "From the very moment the offence was committed she was upset and remorseful and that's her position today.

"She deeply regrets her actions.

"There was a lack of premeditation and there was a split second decision in which she lashed out."

Judge Simon Phillips QC handed her a 14-month jail term, suspended for 24 months, gave her 100 hours of unpaid work and ordered her to pay £1,500 compensation to the man.