A woman threw a drink in the face of a homeless man when he allegedly threatened to summon his uncle to rape her, a court heard.
Summer Bransgrove, 21, appeared at Salisbury Magistrates’ Court this morning having been remanded in custody overnight. She admitted a count of assault by beating.
Magistrates in Swindon issued a warrant for her arrest yesterday, but duty defence solicitor Matthew George said the paperwork had been sent to her old address meaning she had no idea she was due before the court.
It was the Crown’s case that the defendant, of Gladstone Road, Melksham, assaulted her victim – known as Mr F in this report – by throwing a cold drink at him.
The court heard she had known him since she was a young teenager and they had both lived together at Unity House in Chippenham at one point.
On the night of the attack, 7 August last year, Bransgrove – with friend Luke Pinder – went to confront homeless Mr F over an accusation he had sent indecent images of the defendant to his uncle.
They found him on a bench in Monkton Park, near the Wiltshire Council offices, where he was bedding down for the night.
Bransgrove told police he had confirmed to her that he forwarded the photographs of her on, which led to an argument. She says he then threatened to get him to the park to rape her.
She then threw the liquid contents of her McDonald’s cup at him – it hit her victim in the face.
Following that, Pinder launched a violent attack on Mr F, causing significant long-lasting injuries. He was convicted and sentenced at Swindon Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
The crown prosecutor told the court there was nothing outside of Bransgrove’s police statement which confirms the victim had forwarded the indecent images on or that he’d threatened her with rape.
Defending, Mr George said his client had entered guilty pleas at the first opportunity.
He said she was angry and upset at the fact Mr F had shared photographs of her with his uncle, who he said was a convicted sex offender. The throwing of the cup was an “instant reaction” to him having said he would call his uncle to rape her.
Bransgrove was in tears in the dock as Mr George spoke about her upbringing, briefly mentioning that she had been taken into care at the age of 16.
He asked the magistrates to consider imposing an absolute discharge given the circumstances of the assault. Adding that she had spent two days in custody having handed herself into police as soon as she was aware she was wanted on a warrant.
Labelling the event as a “sad and sorry incident”, they agree to deal with the offence by way of an absolute discharge. This means the conviction will be recorded, but there will be no punishment.
