Woman beaten by ‘caring’ nurse and husband in sickening attack after christening

A woman was savagely beaten by a nurse and her husband outside a pub after going to a christening – with a kick aimed at her head.

After a disagreement with their victim outside Gateshead's Three Turtles Inn, Melissa and Paul Forbes set upon the woman.

The woman was battered by the pair, suffering cuts, bruises, a swollen eye, double vision, swelling, and numbness to her cheek through nerve damage, which may need surgery.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the normally caring community nurse and her partner, who have since split up, had been at the bar in July 2017, ChronicleLive reported .

Prosecutor Ian Cook said the victim went outside and was waiting for a taxi when Melissa Forbes came out and CCTV captured a "scuffle" between the pair.

He added: "The complainant never strikes Mrs Forbes, nor does it appear she tries to, from the footage. 

"It is clear Mrs Forbes either hits or aims to hit the complainant on a number of occasions, numerous punches to the head area, with nothing coming back."

Mr Cook said, as the woman lay "prone on the ground", Forbes' husband joined in with a kick, "somewhere around the head area".

Melissa Forbes, 31, of Moormill, Kibblesworth, Gateshead, and Paul Forbes, 33, of Dean Street, Low Fell, Gateshead, both admitted assault.

Judge Tim Gittins told them: "It is difficult to extinguish between your respective blows as to what damage was caused. You are jointly responsible for it. 

"There were significant injuries out of a few moments of madness on the part of both of you."

The judge said it "beggars belief" Melissa Forbes, who had 14 references for her ordinarily caring character, would engage in the violence. 

He sentenced her to a community order for 18 months with 200 hours unpaid work and a three month night-time curfew. 

Sentencing her husband, who has a previous conviction for violence, to eight months in jail, the judge said: "The fact is, kicks like that can kill."

Rachel Hedworth, defending Melissa Forbes, said her client, now pregnant and in a new relationship, had initially tried to act as peacemaker when the trouble flared and "should have walked away". 

Miss Hedworth said Forbes pleaded guilty on the basis she was "initially doing nothing more than defending herself" and did not know her husband would join in. 

She said "extremely hard working" Forbes had needed therapy herself to deal with the stress of what happened, adding: "She is extremely sorry for her actions. 

"It was excessive self defence."

Source: Read Full Article