TWO drunk women shoved a man onto live train tracks and smashed his girlfriend’s teeth in during a violent row at a station.
Morgan Cox and Ellouise Parke, both 23, approached the couple on a platform and asked for a sip of the woman’s drink.
But they consumed it all, leading to a row.
The couple tried to walk away but the intoxicated pair pursued and attacked them.
Cox, from Shard End and Parker, from Sheldon, both admitted two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
District Judge Michelle Smith described the attack as one of the most serious types of offence Birmingham Magistrates’ Court had the power to deal with but she ultimately spared them jail.
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Both were handed suspended prison sentences and Intensive Supervision Court (ISC) orders, currently only available to low-level female offenders in the city.
The incident took place on April 11 last year when the victims went to catch a train at New Street Station.
Prosecutor Owen Beale said: “It was about 9.30pm that night when they made their way down to the platform.
“There, they found the two defendants who had been drinking heavily.”
He stated they asked for a “sip” of the woman’s drink, only for it to be “entirely consumed”.
The prosecutor continued saying the woman “remonstrated” with them but then went to leave with her partner.
PUNCHED AND KICKED
Mr Beale added: “The defendants ran up behind and attacked (the woman) by the escalator.
“The two of them punched and kicked her. She had a bloodied nose and broken teeth.
“They then turned their attention to (her partner). He was pushed off the platform on to the railway which was live.
“Fortunately, he managed to make his way back onto the platform without injury.”
The attack continued before staff intervened.
The man was left with a gash to his head, multiple bruises and a cut to his lower back.
He stated he could have died in the incident, which has now left him nervous at train stations and “scared to go near the platform”.
His girlfriend has suffered a number of complications with her broken teeth since, the court heard.
She said: “I can no longer smile. It has deeply affected my self-esteem and confidence.
“I now cover my mouth when I speak out of shame and embarrassment. Other people notice.
“I continue to struggle emotionally and suffer flashbacks, particularly when I pass through the location of the assault.”
Shabeer Qureshi, defending both women, stated they were in education and had since curbed their drinking.
He said: “This has been a real wake-up call.
“This incident has had a positive effect on both of them to move forward and ensure this doesn’t happen again.
“They have attended with their mothers. They have the full support of their families who are shocked at what’s happened.”
Judge Smith considered committing the case to the city’s crown court, which has greater sentencing powers, but concluded she could retain it due to the defendants’ early guilty pleas, resulting in a one-third reduction to their punishment.
She said: “This is one of the most serious ABHs (actual bodily harm) this court will have seen and will be able to deal with.
“It was a group attack which was sustained and unprovoked at a train station, causing significant injuries and long-lasting impact on your victims.”
However, Judge Smith concluded the “prospect of rehabilitation” was high as they had no previous convictions and had taken steps to address the cause of the incident, being alcohol.
Cox and Parker were both sentenced to 12 months suspended for 18 months including 25 days of rehabilitation activity and a drug testing requirement.
They were both ordered to pay £100 compensation to each victim – £400 in total between them.
They also consented to an ISC order, which requires regular meetings with the probation service and a monthly meeting with a judge at a civil justice centre.
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