A raging boyfriend drove a van at his girlfriend’s aunt and cousin after she shut her front door on him.
Elliot Stott had moments earlier hurled a plant pot through Michaela Smith’s window after she refused to let him in her house.
When Ms Smith and her daughter, Nadia Walsh, came out of the house on Hollingbourne Road in Norris Green, Stott, behind the wheel of a van, drove at the pair twice after mounting the pavement.
Liverpool Crown Court today heard that 11 days later Stott’s friend, Michael Longworth, punched Ms Smith forcing her backwards and resulting in her hitting her head on the pavement.
Stott and Longworth, both 22, appeared at court via video link today from HMP Liverpool.
Stott, of Utting Avenue East in Norris Green previously admitted dangerous driving, criminal damage and driving without insurance.
Longworth had pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm.
David Polglase, prosecuting, explained that Michaela Smith lived with her husband David and daughter Nadia Walsh, on the same road as her niece, Courtney Walsh.
Mr Polgalse said: “In April this year Stott was the boyfriend of Courtney Walsh and Longworth was his friend.
“Michaela Smith didn’t like Elliot Stott and there was some bad blood between them.”
Mr Polglase explained that on April 9 Courtney Walsh went to visit her aunt alongside Stott which “led to Ms Smith shutting the door on Courtney”.
He said: “She described Stott kicking the door and making threats with Ms Smith being prevented from leaving.”
After leaving Stott then returned with Longworth, Mr Polglase explained, after which Stott “damaged a window, throwing a plant pot at the house”.
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Mr Polglase said: “What then unfolded involved Stott driving a vehicle at Michaela and Nadia, mounting the kerb.
“Michaela had to pull her daughter out of the way with Stott driving at her again, this time all four wheels were on the pavement.”
Fortunately, neither Ms Smith nor Ms Walsh were injured in that incident.
Just over a week later, on April 20, Ms Smith was returning home from shopping with her daughter Nadia Walsh and another friend, Mr Polglase explained, when they saw a transit van pulling up with Michael Longworth in it.
Mr Polglase said: “She describes him running at her daughter ‘pulling something shiny out of his sleeve.’”
She “jumped in front of her daughter” and was “struck twice hard by Longworth, causing injury and causing her to fall backwards.”
Mr Polglase said: “She described hitting her head on the kerb after the second blow.”
He confirmed that the “crown accepts the medical evidence doesn’t show injury to the back of the head”.
Trevor Parry-Jones, defending Longworth, interjected to confirm that Longworth had pleaded guilty on the basis there was no weapon used.
The court heard Ms Smith suffered swelling, cuts and bruising to her forearm and was discharged from hospital with antibiotics and painkillers.
Longworth was arrested later that day after he was seen “to run from the address saying ‘It’s about that girl isn’t it, I’ve still got blood on my hands’”.
Stott was arrested on November 6 and in an initial interview gave no comment, while denying offences in a second interview, Mr Polglase explained.
In a victim personal statement, Ms Smith stated “she and her family have moved away” as a result of the incident and she suffered “stress” and “anxiety”.
The court heard Longworth, of Storrington Avenue, Croxteth , has no previous convictions.
Stott has two previous convictions for six offences including dangerous driving.
Trevor Parry-Jones, defending Longworth, told the court Longworth accepted what he had done and “doesn’t want to return to that area”.
The court heard Longworth doesn’t accept the blow was premeditated and “it was never his intention to assault in that way”.
Mr Parry-Jones said: “When one looks at his background he is a man of good character in an area where a lot of people have convictions.
“He left school and worked extremely hard in plumbing business he was in which is what he wants to carry on and do.”
He told the court that Longworth has already served a sentence equivalent of 14 months in custody.
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Gareth Bellis, defending Stott, explained that he pleaded guilty to the criminal damage charge in the lower courts.
Mr Bellis also explained once the charge of dangerous driving was brought on the day of trial, Stott admitted that charge too.
Referring to a report Mr Bellis said: “It’s right to say he accepts he did drive a van at Michaela Smith and her daughter.”
Mr Bellis told the judge: “This was a very brief moment of madness where he drove his van at the two ladies to frighten them.
“He was angry. Your honour knows there is bad blood between Stott and Ms Smith.”
Stott has also spent six months and three weeks in custody for the offences, which is the equivalent of a 14-month sentence, Mr Bellis stated.
Judge Garrett Byrne, sentencing Stott, said: "You drove straight to them and she had to grab her daughter. As if that wasn’t bad enough you then tried again - this time with all four wheels on the kerb.”
Judge Byrne ruled there was a “substantial risk of serious harm” and a “flagrant disregard for the rules of the road”.
Stott was handed a 20-month prison sentence and was disqualified from driving for three years, which will begin from his release.
He must also take an extended retest following that period before he is able to drive again.
As he sentenced Longworth Judge Byrne said: “I’ve seen the photographs, and the injuries were horrible, deep cuts to the right cheek with swelling to her cheekbone and some bruising. She may be left with some scarring.
“The pre-sentence report says you failed to demonstrate any empathy to the victim. I have read your letter and your character references of people who spoke highly of you.”
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Longworth was handed an 18-month sentence suspended for 24 months.
He must complete 20 rehabilitation activity requirements and complete 40 hours of unpaid work.
Both Stott and Longworth were handed five-year restraining orders preventing them from approaching Michaela Smith.
