Drunk bride-to-be who left female personal trainer with horror injuries when she broke into her home and attacked her is spared jail after telling judge it would have a ‘profound impact’ on her three young children
- Mother-of-three Megan Pedley, 28, broke into Jessica Clutterbuck’s property
A bride-to-be who got drunk and beat up a personal trainer during a terrifying break-in at the victim’s home has walked free after telling a judge prison would ‘profoundly impact’ on her young children.
Mother-of-three Megan Pedley, 28, broke into Jessica Clutterbuck’s property at random then set about her with such ferocity, the victim was left with multiple bruising, a bite mark to her chest and bald patches where her hair had been pulled out.
During the vicious 11.30pm assault on December 16 last year, Pedley, from Congleton, Cheshire also kicked Miss Clutterbuck in the face before trashing the kitchen by throwing plates, glasses and drawers around the house.
When later quizzed about the attack, she falsely made a series of ‘unsubstantiated allegations’ against 34-year old Miss Clutterbuck who had previously gone public about her harrowing battle with anorexia.
The motive for the attack has never been revealed although Pedley’s fiancee was a friend of Miss Clutterbuck’s ex-boyfriend.
Mother-of-three Megan Pedley, 28, broke into Jessica Clutterbuck’s property in December
During the vicious 11.30pm assault on December 16 last year, Pedley, from Congleton, Cheshire also kicked Miss Clutterbuck (pictured) in the face
Pedley only stopped the attack when she ‘seemed to tire herself out’ and then sat next to the complainant on the floor
At Chester Crown Court, Pedley who is engaged to be married faced jail after she pleaded guilty to burglary with intent to cause damage, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and using violence to secure entry to a premises.
But she was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment suspended for 18 months after claiming her children – aged between eight and two months and including a daughter with severe disabilities – were dependent on her.
Prosecutor Laura Knightly said: ‘The complainant had been on the phone to a friend when she heard a noise at the back door and thought that someone was trying to break into the house.
‘She put her head through the window in the utility room, and saw the defendant sat on the floor outside the window. The defendant then kicked out at the complainant and made contact with her forehead and made her fall back – at which point she climbed through the window.
‘She smashed plates and glasses and drawers and then launched herself at the complainant causing her to fall backwards. She kicked and punched the complainant several times.’
The court heard that Pedley only stopped the attack when she ‘seemed to tire herself out’ and then sat next to the complainant on the floor. She was repeatedly asked to leave but refused to do so before grabbing Miss Clutterbuck’s hair, pulling out clumps.
Pedley was also ordered to complete 25 rehabilitation days with the probation service and to wear a ‘sobriety tag’ for 120 days
Pedley was also issued with a restraining order preventing her from approaching Miss Clutterbuck for five years
Police found Miss Clutterbuck, pictured, sat on the kitchen floor saying: ‘I have been smacked in the face, she climbed through the window.’
Police officers attended following reports of shouting and screaming at the address to find Miss Clutterbuck sat on the kitchen floor saying: ‘I have been smacked in the face, she climbed through the window.’
The victim suffered a lump to her forehead, tenderness to her neck and cheek, a bite mark on her right breast, bruises to her arms and legs, scratches to her back, and bald patches where her hair was pulled out. She also had small cuts on her feet due to stepping on broken glass. Pedley later gave no comment in police interview.
Her lawyer Rose Proctor said: ‘She fully accepts her responsibility for her behaviour that night. The explanation is quite plainly alcohol and she recognises that she uses alcohol as a crutch.
‘She has three children, one is just two months old and one of her daughters requires a great deal of care, she is blind in one eye, she has learning disabilities, and has attachment issues. Miss Pedley is the primary carer and custody will have a profound impact on the children.
‘She does recognise and accept that she behaved terribly that night. She accepts that she alone is to blame for her behaviour.’
Pedley was also ordered to complete 25 rehabilitation days with the probation service and to wear a ‘sobriety tag’ for 120 days which will detect of she has been drinking. She was issued with a restraining order preventing her from approaching Miss Clutterbuck for five years.
Judge Steven Everett told her: ‘For reasons I don’t even begin to understand, here you are with three young children, at the time you had two young children, one of whom has real special needs.
‘Firstly, I have no idea why you were drinking. Secondly, I have no idea why you got yourself so drunk, and thirdly, there doesn’t seem to be any reason on earth why you should go to the home of someone you hardly know and force your way into her house and attack her.
‘It was bizarre behaviour to say the least. You were not thinking of your children at the time. You had two at the time, one has special needs but both need their mother’s care. What you were doing away from them, I do not understand, why you were drunk I do not understand, or why you did not give any thought to the consequences.
‘The victim had nasty bruising to her head and face in particular, bruising to her legs and arms, a bite mark to her chest. It is truly truly horrible and an assault where you lost all control. I am unimpressed by your no comment interview, then passing the blame on to the victim when she had done nothing wrong. You made unsubstantiated allegations against her.
‘But I have taken into account that you had a very difficult childhood, that you have three young children and all are very dependent on you. I can just about suspend the sentence – but you need to remember this moment because you won’t get another chance. If you stay out of trouble you will be fine, if not you will come back and you will to prison. There will be no saving you next time.’
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