TWO women teamed up and dished out “thuggish” violence to a victim who was punched and kicked in a busy Whitehaven street.

Becky Watson, 32, and Cheryl Anne Parker, 40, were caught in the act as CCTV captured their broad daylight offending in front of stunned King Street shoppers at 2.40pm on January 27 last year.

Both women recalled Angel Paris Jordan yelling verbal abuse and throwing a bottle while Parker asked four times for the pair to be left alone.

But Watson and Parker then lost their temper, Carlisle Crown Court heard.

“As Miss Jordan starts to walk away from the two defendants, Becky Watson takes hold of her by the arm and then starts to punch her head from behind,” said Holly Nelson, prosecuting.

“There are multiple punches resulting in Miss Jordan falling to the ground.”

Watson and Parker stood over Miss Jordan, who got back to her feet before approaching the pair as they walked off.

Parker then took the lead as disorder continued, grappling and throwing punches as the victim ended up on the ground again before Watson ran over.

“Miss Jordan describes putting her hands to her head to protect herself from the attack, including kicks,” said Ms Nelson.

“As members of the public approach to break things up, Cheryl Parker does appear to pull Becky Watson away.”

A bystander heard one woman shout “retard” as they walked off.

Watson, of New Street, Whitehaven, and Parker, of Seven Acres, Parton, admitted an actual bodily harm assault on Miss Jordan, who suffered bruising over the body.

Both denied using transphobic language and insisted the attack was not motivated by hostility towards Miss Jordan identifying as a transgender woman, added Ms Nelson, who confirmed the case was not deemed a hate crime.

After hearing hopeful progress reports on both Watson and Parker, Recorder Simon Killeen suspended four-month prison sentences for a year, and ordered the pair to complete rehabilitation requirements and night time curfews.

“You have just seen it on camera,” Recorder Killeen said of the CCTV footage played in court. “What you engaged in, in January last year, was an outrageous attack, together, on somebody in the street. Extremely unpleasant.”

The judge described “thuggish street violence”, adding: “You, operating effectively as a gang, the two of you against this woman.”