Grieving grandmother Susan Bray has described how the 'evil' woman who attacked her daughter showed no remorse as she was jailed for four years.
She revealed she would never come to terms with the death of 'funny and bubbly' daughter Nicola who died around 18 hours after being brutally assaulted.
The 64-year-old was in court to see Nicola's attacker Sheila Pickerill, locked up, reports StokeonTrentLive.
Staffordshire Police launched a murder investigation following the discovery of mum-of-three Nicola's body at her home in Cliffe Vale, during August, 2020.
But no murder charge was ever brought and Pickerill, an acquaintance of the victim, went on to admit a charge of grievous bodily harm with intent.
Susan told StokeonTrentLive: "It was heartbreaking to listen in court. The injuries what she caused to her face, they were awful. She fractured her eye socket and completely broke her jaw.
"The things that keep playing on my mind are how much did she realise the attack was going on? How long did she suffer the horrendous pain?
"How can anyone consistently keep kicking or punching someone in the head? She's one evil person. She showed no remorse, no nothing."
Pickerill must serve four years in prison and a further two years on licence. But Susan hit out at the sentence, saying it could 'never be long enough'.
She said: "I know that they couldn't prove the murder charge, I sort of knew that the sentence wouldn't be as long as she deserved.
"The sentence is definitely too light, but I understand that the police did their utmost to get her a higher sentence and the barrister was amazing. They all did their best.
"I'm just glad that the judge extended the sentence, so hopefully she will have to go in front of the parole board before she can be released and they will see her for what she is - evil."
"But it's absolutely heartbreaking, something I'll never, ever get over. We had had an argument months before so that's made it worse that we weren't speaking properly.
"I'll miss her every day until the day I die."
Susan revealed her daughter had struggled with a drugs issue after getting into the wrong crowd. Susan added: "I had Nicola when I was only 17. She was just fun and bubbly. She was my girl. She loved her siblings, she adored them so much.
"Even though she had a drug habit, whenever she was around her family she made everyone laugh.
"I've had her youngest son since he was a baby. He's eight-years-old and the apple of my eye and I'm concentrating on him now."
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