A KENDAL woman attacked the partner of a man whose flat she was staying in after they argued over an allegation that he was unfaithful, a court heard.

Cheryl Campbell, 32, turned violent in the Windermere flat after her claim that she had slept with the man was dismissed by both him and his girlfriend, Carlisle Crown Court heard.

The victim told police Campbell punched her to the ground before stamping on her face “over and over again.” The defendant was originally charged with an actual bodily harm assault.

But after legal discussions, which included medical confirmation that the victim had not suffered any fractures, the prosecution accepted Campbell’s plea to assault by beating.

At Carlisle Crown Court, prosecutor Gerard Rogerson outlined the facts.

He said that on October 8, 2022, the victim was in a relationship with the man whose flat Campbell was staying at because of her personal circumstances.

On that day, the man’s partner, who had her own accommodation, visited his flat to collect washing that she wanted to complete over the weekend but when she arrived her boyfriend was not there, the court heard.

But Campbell was in the flat.

“There was an argument between the two women,” said Mr Rogerson. “[The victim] said that as soon as she got into the property, Miss Campbell started to make comments about having slept with [the man whose flat it was].”

The man’s girlfriend reacted by saying claim was "ridiculous".

Campbell repeated the claim when the man returned but he was equally dismissive, said Mr Rogerson.  At this point, the girlfriend told Campbell that it was time she left. Mr Rogerson continued: “She didn’t leave. Instead, she started on [the woman].

"She describes being punched to the face a few times and she could remember feeling her lip burst and then pain to her nose. She could see blood dripping from her face to the floor.”

The woman heard her partner shouting at Campbell to get off his girlfriend.

The woman accused Campbell of stamping on her face repeatedly. The defendant at one point apologised for her actions but then resumed the attack, the court was told.

“She feared for her life,” said Mr Rogerson. The victim suffered two black eyes, a swollen lip, and bruising and soreness to her face and collar bone.

In a statement, the woman said the incident put her relationship with the flat owner under pressure and ultimately they had split. She took a month off work and had to endure people staring at her facial injuries.

The man said what happened shocked him, particular as he was trying to help Campbell, who has four previous convictions for violence.

David Traynor, defending, said Campbell had large gaps in her criminal record, which suggested she could stay out of trouble.

She and her previous partner were both users of class A drugs and there was an “element of domestic violence,” thus Campbell was in a period of instability. She had now left that partner and it was not a good break up, said the barrister.

The defendant now has new accommodation in Kendal and a support worker; and she is engaging with Recovery Steps, an organisation that helps people with drug and alcohol issues.  

Recorder Julian Shaw told Campbell, formerly of Garth Bank, Kendal, that the circumstances of her violence were “unedifying.

“It’s remarkable you didn’t do that young lady really serious harm,” said the judge.

“Had you done so, you would now be going to prison.”

Recorder Shaw said he appreciated Campbell is addressing her issues through Recovery Steps, but he said the assault added to "a growing list" of violent offences when she failed to control herself or acted after “a red mist” came down.

“At 32, you are a bit long in the tooth for this kind of violent and uncontrolled behaviour,” added the judge.

He imposed an 18-month community order which includes 12 rehabilitation activity days.