Gateshead pair brutally punched and stamped on woman's…

Gateshead pair brutally punched and stamped on woman's head as she lay helpless on floor

Two women punched and stamped on another female as she lay helpless in the street during a brutal city centre attack.

In what a judge described as one of the worst assaults of its type, Stacey Alberts and Melanie Wallace repeatedly struck and kicked the defenceless victim while she was on the ground. The ruthless pair then punched her in the face every time she tried to raise her head, a court was told.

The whole attack was captured on CCTV and Wallace and Alberts were identified and arrested but the extent of the victim's injuries were unknown as she was never traced. Now, Alberts, who has been recalled to prison after serving half a sentence for an offence of violence, has been locked up and Wallace has been warned she faces jail after they both appeared at Newcastle Magistrates' Court to plead guilty to assault by beating.

Jailing Alberts, of Oak Square, in Gateshead, for 16 weeks, District Judge Paul Currer said: "You fall to be sentenced for what was a horrible assault. You and Melanie Wallace launched a vicious attack on someone who was unable to defend themselves.

"As she lay on the floor, you both punched her in the face. You were both stamping on her as she lay on the floor. Whenever she raised her head, you punched her in the face. It was an appalling attack. In fact, it's one of the worst types of battery I have come across."

Stacey Alberts, who has been jailed for assault (Newcastle Chronicle)

Wallace, of Wooler Crescent, in Gateshead, also admitted a racially-aggravated public order offence after she referred to a police officer as a "black b***h" whilst in a police station and said "I'm a racist, I don't like them". Because she'd been out of trouble for a couple of years, District Judge Currer adjourned the case for the preparation of a pre-sentence report. She was released on bail to next appear at the same court on February 22.

Clare Irving, prosecuting, said Wallace and Alberts launched the attack on the unknown woman in Newcastle City Centre on January 30 this year and the whole incident was captured on CCTV. When arrested, Alberts, who has 94 offences on her record, gave a no-comment interview.

However, Wallace, who has 33 offences on her record, made the racist remark about a police officer. Ms Irving said: "The sergeant was speaking to the defendant at Forth Banks. She was engaging and calm with the officer at first then she demanded her methadone.

"The officer explained that there was a policy for administering medication in custody. The defendant then became abusive and started swearing. She was searched. Other officers later told the sergeant that the defendant had called her a black b***h. The officers challenged her about the racist remark and she said "I'm a racist, I don't like them"."

In a statement, the sergeant said: "I'm proud of who I am and where I come from but, to be racially abused about the colour of skin, caused me great upset."

Lewis Pearson, defending Wallace, said she attacked the woman in the city centre because she had earlier been hit with a bottle. Mr Pearson added: "The main problems with Melanie are drugs and alcohol, which, at the moment, are not being addressed."

The court heard that Alberts had no memory of the attack and she also had a problem with drugs and alcohol. She was also being recalled to prison until the end of March.

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