A mum attacked her partner with a hammer in the middle of the street while horrified neighbours looked on after she suffered ‘innumerable instances of abuse and violence’.
Deborah Lock, 42, had an argument with her partner at their home on April 22 of last year. Lock and the man could be seen in the middle of Vale Top Avenue, Moston, having a verbal exchange, a court heard.
There, she hurled some of his belongings at him, before going inside and returning with a hammer, Manchester Crown Court was told on Tuesday (February 7). She then struck the man on the shoulder and back of his head, causing a skull fracture and haematoma.
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"[Police officers] found [the man] in the street with a head injury," prosecutor David Farley told courtroom five. "They were told he had been hit on the head with a hammer. The defendant came to her door and began to throw items at police.
"They followed her in and arrested her. Witnesses said they saw [the victim] in the street. The defendant hit him twice, and she was shouting 'he beats me up and strangles me'.
"[The man] was taken to hospital; he suffered a depressed fracture on the frontal bone and acute bruising. Surgery was given and he discharged himself on May 2."
Lock had two previous convictions, one for wounding in 1997, and a second for a 'dissimilar offence' in 2004, Mr Farley added. Defending Lock was Rick Holland, who told His Honour Judge Timothy Smith that his client had been on the receiving end of 'innumerable instances of abuse and violence'.
"There's no record of the defendant calling out the police to her," he began. "That may be indicative of someone who is fearing repercussions or general distrust.
"I know from other material, by speaking to a good friend of the defendant's for a long time. He is familiar with [Lock's] mental health and struggles, and he has been informed of countless occasions of injuries this lady had at the hands of this gentleman.
"While it's not a first account, it's something that further fortifies the point made. How it became to be that she was in a relationship [with the man] is not too clear but it was not very long before he invited himself to stay.
"Over time the innumerable instances of abuse and violence have culminated in this episode of violence on her part."
Mr Holland also said his client has battled mental health issues for a decade. He continued: "It really involves a situation where this lady has suffered for 10 years [from] paranoid schizophrenia and taken regular medication but has had relapses.
"Sometimes the link between psychosis and the use of drugs is evident, as [it is in] this case. At the time she was psychotic and acutely ill. The progress she has made is apparent.
"There have been no episodes with staff in prison. She is [taking] medication regularly."
Mr Holland clarified that at the time of that attack, Lock was under the influence of amphetamines and alcohol.
Judge Timothy Smith decided that an immediate prison sentence was necessary for Lock. Summing up, he told her: "The attack itself took place at 10:30pm-11pm on April 22. You had an argument with him and began throwing his belongings at him into the street. Neighbours were disturbed and they were able to witness your going back into the house to reappear with a hammer which you proceeded to strike [the victim] with.
"The blows were around his shoulder and one hard to the back of his head. There was a further attempt to hit him again. The result of that was a skull fracture and haemetoma. That required surgery. Fortunately there were no long term consequences.
"On the day he had you in a form of headlock, an unprovoked attack on you. However, this was not you using a hammer to free him off - far from it. It was not in defence to yourself, but in response to what was happening to you. There was a degree of provocation."
Judge Smith sentenced Lock to 22 months in prison. He initially gave her a 28-month-term, but this was reduced because she admitted her offence of section 20 grievous bodily harm at an earlier court appearance. Lock has already been remanded for around 10 months, meaning she will be released in the spring.
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