A pregnant woman launched a violent attack on a pensioner during a family funeral, leaving the victim with fractured ribs. Danielle Oliver assaulted Belinda Stickland, 65, at at the Conservative Club in Splott, Cardiff on June 9, 2023.
The assault resulted in Ms Stickland being rushed to hospital with multiple rib fractures and other severe injuries, causing long-term breathing difficulties and emphysema, as heard by Cardiff Crown Court on Wednesday. Following the attack that afternoon, Ms Stickland required fluid to be drained from her lungs.
Prosecutor Kirsten Murphy informed the court that mother-of-three Oliver’s assault on Ms Stickland was intentional and prolonged, continuing to gesture towards her victim even after knocking her to the ground, prompting bar staff to forcibly remove Oliver from the club.
Bar staff subsequently transported Ms Stickland to the University Hospital of Wales where she remained for nine days. Although CCTV footage was not shown in court, it was described by the prosecution, WalesOnline reports
Ms Murphy stated that 39-year-old Oliver was initially engrossed in her mobile phone before looking up at Ms Stickland who was standing near the bar, and then launching herself at the elderly woman, reports
Judge Simon Mills noted from the footage that the victim had fallen “heavily” to the floor. The defendant was arrested on June 13 and responded with “no comment” to all inquiries.
The court was told she remained in “disbelief” that her actions could result in such harm, but ultimately admitted guilt for assault occasioning grievous bodily harm at a plea and trial preparation hearing, receiving a 15% sentence reduction.
The victim, Ms Stickland, conveyed the devastating impact of the attack in a statement to the court, expressing: “I was attending the funeral of a close friend on the day I was assaulted. It changed my life in so many ways. It took my sparkle away.
“I am now a shell of a person. Oliver was a stranger to me and yet now she is woven into the fabric of my every day.
“I used to go out and enjoy my life and speak to my neighbours but now I can’t leave the house. I feel it is too unsafe.”
Directly confronting the accused, she queried: “What if you had killed me? What if you had left my children without their mother? What if you had left my grandchildren without their nan?”.
“I don’t just live with the physical injuries, I continue to live with the mental trauma. I am no longer me.”
In unyielding terms, Judge Mills addressed the unmoved Oliver in the dock, stating: “Even brief incidents of violence can have catastrophic consequences.
“Any idea that a single blow to the face doesn’t do any harm is completely wide of the mark. You could today have been facing prosecution for manslaughter.”
Judge Mills stated: “I have heard you are surprised by the seriousness of your victim’s injuries. Well I’m afraid in the job that I do I see all of the time how momentary acts of violence have very serious consequences and sometimes fatal consequences.
“Once you lay your hands on someone else in such a way then the consequences can be truly catastrophic and they arguably have been in this case.”
He continued: “I am not going into the background of why you made the decision you did. You were pregnant at the time and I’m aware your medication had to be adjusted.
“An issue was brought to your attention which caused you to make completely the wrong decision.”
The court was informed that the defendant, a resident of Braunton Avenue in Llanrumney, had two prior convictions, including a 2014 property damage offence. However, these convictions were not considered aggravating factors.
Dan Jones, representing Oliver, stated that his client has three children who depend on her, including one with specific needs who relies on her particularly. He argued that his client did not intend to cause the injuries sustained by Ms Stickland and had demonstrated remorse.
Judge Mills handed Oliver a 66-week prison sentence, suspended for two years. Additionally, she was made the subject of a restraining order, prohibiting her from approaching her victim in any manner for five years, and was required to complete a 10-day rehabilitation activity requirement.
Judge Mills ruled against ordering the defendant to pay compensation to the plaintiff, citing her financial inability to provide a significant sum, consequently resulting in minimal monthly payments to Ms Stickland over a prolonged period.
Following the hearing, Jinaise, Ms Stickland’s daughter, expressed relief to WalesOnline, stating: “We’re satisfied with the outcome. It’s been two years now and we want to move on.”
Emphasising the toll the incident took on her mother, she continued: “My mother is 65 now and shouldn’t have had to put up with this. The puncture has given her emphysema. My mother is already closer to the coffin than most and she shouldn’t have to have anyone wanting to put her in there any sooner by assaulting her.”