A married couple brutally battered two women in their 60s after an argument broke out in a pub.
Michael and Jemma Edwards launched the ‘animal’ attack on the pair on a night out in the Lime Street Central pub of Liverpool City Centre on April 24 last year.
The Liverpool Echo reports that the Edwardses left their victims with lifelong injuries.
The pair were ejected from the boozer. But when one of the victims went outside they attacked her again, knocking her to the ground and beating her.
One of the women, Louise Kenny, suffered six separate fractures to her jaw, and needed emergency surgery to insert titanium plates into both sides of her jaw. Millicent Kenny, suffered bruises and a nose injury which left her unable to taste or smell.
At Liverpool Crown Court yesterday, February 12, prosecutor Paul Blasbery said the argument broke out after Michael Edwards believed one of the women had been laughing at Jemma Edwards’ laugh.
He said: “The male (Michael Edwards) aggressively shouted to Millicent Kenny ‘why are you laughing at my girlfriend?’. Her reply was ‘I’m not laughing at your girlfriend’. The male replied more aggressively ‘why are you laughing at my f***ing girlfriend?” The two women said they had been having a private conversation, but Jemma Edwards then became involved, pointing at Millicent Kenny and shouting an extremely unpleasant slur.
She and her husband then attacked the older couple. Mr Blasbery said: “Louise Kenny says she doesn’t recall what happened next – it was all a blur. The next thing she remembers was being in the middle of the venue in front of the doors, where she heard a commotion. She remembers her partner being on the floor, surrounded by people. The next thing she remembers is being sat near the door with blood coming out of her mouth.
“Millicent Kenny remembered the female (Jemma Edwards) shouting abuse at her, pointing aggressively and calling her a c***. Following this she described her memory was being patchy. The next thing she remembers is being knocked down on the floor with her head in her hands. She was taking blows to the side of her head. She wasn’t sure if they were punches or kicks.”
The married couple turned themselves in after police released a CCTV appeal to trace them.
Michael Edwards, 39, from Kirkby, pleaded guilty to assault causing grievous bodily harm and actual bodily harm; while his wife Jemma, 31, also from Kirkby, pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm.
Michael Edwards has three previous convictions for three offences including battery, while Jemma Edwards had no past convictions.
Peter White, defending, said: “I have been instructed to say on their behalf they are acutely aware of the pain they have caused, the consequences of their actions and that they will be punished for these actions.
“Jemma Edwards is 31, of previous good character, with three young children aged between 14 and eight, with particular difficulties with the middle child, aged 12. Jemma is clearly supporting them as best she can, engaging with the local authorities to gain access to services for her children.
“As a result of this process, Jemma Edwards was going into her final year of a paramedic course, and was hoping to have a real vocation. She has now got a conviction for actual bodily harm, and that is not going to happen. It has all been for nothing because of her actions on this occasion.
“Michael Edwards has a long history of employment. Unfortunately he accepted voluntary redundancy. He was unable to work for a long period of time due to his own difficulties. That resulted in difficulties with his previous partner, which had a significant impact on him. But clearly there’s a different side to him as well. He’s 39, lightly convicted, and has never been before the crown court on matters of such seriousness.” He added that Michael Edwards had problems with his mental health and drinking, and had referred himself to Alcoholics Anonymous.
Sentencing, judge Andrew Menary said: “I have seen CCTV footage which shows what unfolded and it’s truly disgraceful. The people who were assaulted here, Louise Kenny and Millicent Kenny, were caused very serious injuries as a consequence of what happened.
“The first part of the incident began when one or both of the women confronted you. You responded, Michael Edwards, by delivering a vicious blow to Millicent, and also to Louise. You, Jemma Edwards, involved yourself in that incident as well. Louise, as a consequence of being struck by you, suffered a fracture to the jaw. It was broken in six places and required operative intervention in hospital, and she has been left with numbness to the left side of her face which will be permanent, and some scarring to her face.
“The attack in the pub has come to an end despite, it’s clear, both of you being determined to carry it on. Other members of the public had to hold you both back because, for no reason, you felt determined to cause these mature women real injury.
“You were ejected from the public house. You went outside and when Millicent Kenny came out a further argument developed and you, Jemma, grabbed her by the hair and you, Michael, set about her again. She was beaten to the floor by you and while on the floor you, Jemma, continued to attack her. Both of you again determined to carry on attacking this woman.
“The CCTV footage demonstrated the ferocity of the attack by both of you. Though you, Michael Edwards, caused most of the injuries, this was an attack where both of you were behaving, quite frankly, like animals.”
Michael Edwards was sentenced to two years in prison. Jemma Edwards was sentenced to 12 months, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to carry out 20 rehabilitation days and a 12 month mental health treatment course.
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