Student beat up in Patna street

Jan 23 2009

A STUDENT was brutally attacked as she made her way home from an under 18s disco.

Patna teenager Nicola Toner was beaten up by Danielle Smith – an unemployed college drop out – in the village on May 23 last year.

After evidence was heard at Ayr Sheriff Court this week, Smith, 18, admitted the assault by pulling Nicola’s hair, pushing her to the ground and repeatedly punching her to the head and body.

Her pal Leigh-Anne Sommerville was foundnot guilty of theassault but admitted a breach of the peace.

Nicola told the court that she was walking in Dalharco Avenue around 11.10pm.

Nicola, 18, said: “I’d been to pick up my mum’s dog from her boyfriend’s house and I was walking down the street when I heard people shouting and mouthing off at me.

“I just ignored them and because I did that I was jumped from behind.

“I felt my hair getting pulled and the next thing I knew I was lying on the ground getting my head kicked in.

“I tried to phone the police, I was screaming down the phone so they couldn't understand what I was saying.”

Nicola became upset as she sat in the witness box and recalled what had happened to her.

She continued: “It was mostly Danielle kicking and punching me on the body. One of Leigh-Anne’s friends was holding her back so she didn’t get a chance to hit me.

“At this point I shut my eyes because I just wanted it all to stop and thenI felt my mum pullDanielle off me.”

During cross examination, defence lawyer Peter Lockhart told Nicola that Smith admitted pushing and punching her but claimed she didn’t kick her.

The court also heard evidence from Angela Toner, Nicola’s mum, who described the horrifying phone call she received from her daughter screaming for help as she was being attacked.

Mrs Toner, 41, went on to say that she jumped in her boyfriend’s car and came upon Smith on top of her daughter as she lay on the road.

Smith was fined £205 and ordered to pay Nicola £100 compensation.

Sommerville, who admitted shouting at Nicola was fined £75.