A young mum spent eight hours in a cell after being arrested for attacking an intruder with a hammer when she claims they threatened her child.
Bethany Leese was taken into custody for using the weapon in "self defence" when a four-strong gang turned up at her home in Milton, Staffordshire.
The incident saw two properties cordoned off with police remaining at the scene for six hours, Stoke-on-Trent Live reports.
A 20-year-old woman was also left needing hospital treatment for "potentially serious" head and hand injuries.
Staffordshire Police has since confirmed "no further action will be taken" against 21-year-old Bethany who had been detained on suspicion of wounding with intent.
The mum-of-one insists she "instinctively" reacted to protect her two-year-old son Charlie, when she struck the so-called victim with the tool.
She claims the woman - who is known to her - turned up at her address in the early hours of January 4 with two other women and a man.
Bethany told Stoke-on-Trent Live : “We’ve been having petty arguments. She’d been using my number to book taxis so there were taxis ringing me at 5am - that’s how the argument started.
“She rang my phone about 30 times and she was drunk. She said stuff like ‘watch what I’ll do to Charlie, I’ll come and splatter him all over the road’. I didn’t think anything of it at that point.
“Then she turned up and all sorts went through my head and I thought ‘oh my God, I think they are here to follow through with the threats’.
“There were four people, three girls and one guy. They were all drunk and in a right state.
“I was angry when she called but I wasn’t worried because I’d known her for all my life. I didn’t think she would do anything like that. But when she turned up I was worried. They were intent on doing one thing.
“She walked in shouting and threatening me. I saw three others standing in my doorway.
“She was kicking off and threatening us. I picked up a hammer and hit her with it.
“I did everything I could to make sure she couldn’t get near my baby.
“The front door was open because my boyfriend had gone to the shops get some juice. He was sitting in his car when this happened.
"When he heard the commotion he came and got them out but they still wouldn’t leave. They were banging on the door and window. They wouldn't go.”
Fearing for her safety, Bethany took her young son to her mum’s house before she was arrested and taken into custody.
She was later released on bail.
She added: “I was terrified for my little boy. I would’ve been in bed if these people didn’t turn up. It was a massive shock to me. I did what any mum would do.
“I was locked up for eight hours and interviewed. It was a horrible experience. I was fuming at the fact I was the only one arrested.
“I am relieved and glad they are taking no further action against me. I was worried I was going to get in trouble for something that someone else caused. They invaded my personal space and came into my home.
“I am disabled and have a brain injury. I acted out of instinct. I didn't stand a chance against four people.
“They intended to come into my house and harm my son. If they didn’t come into my house this wouldn’t have happened."
Bethany says she has now cut all ties with the woman.
“There’s no reason to speak to her again," she added. "I’ve known her all my life and never expected this to happen. It’s upsetting that she has gone and done this.”
A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: “No further action is being taken”.
