A woman knocked a 15-year-old girl unconscious after arming herself with a screwdriver and shoving it into her neck, causing blood to pour down her head, a court heard. Layla Rylands had earlier angrily threatened to burn down the teenage victim's home, spit in her mum's face, slash her tyres and set her dog on her, a prosecutor said.
Another girl wearing 'Lilo and Stitch pyjamas' armed herself with a claw hammer and a third girl grabbed a weapon from a tool kit as violent scenes broke out after a confrontation in a park earlier.
Hull Crown Court heard Rylands, 22, of Canberra Street, off Hessle Road, west Hull, admitted affray. She originally denied the offence but later changed her plea.
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Benjamin Donnell, prosecuting, said that Rylands got involved in a confrontation involving several young people, including a 15-year-old girl, on April 17 last year. There was "childish name-calling" in a park and a male said that he and others would smash up the girl's house, reports Hull Live.
Later that day, at 6.45pm, he and two other aggressive teenagers wearing balaclavas went to the girl's house. The male warned that they would get a gang over.
The girl's mother told them to leave but, as they were starting to go, Rylands turned up and was immediately abusive to the girl's mother and called her "fat" and "ugly". She threatened to burn the woman's home down, spit in her face, slash her tyres and set her dog on her.
Rylands said that, because she was pregnant, she could not actually do those things. The mother later found out that the troublemakers had gone there because of the earlier disagreement in the nearby park.
The next day, Rylands and two girls went back to the girl's house and, at 6.30pm, the garden gate was kicked. The girl and her mother went outside and saw Rylands and four others, including the two girls and two males. The group was abusive to the girl and her mother and shouted "Come on, come on" as though they were asking them to get involved in violence. They threatened to beat up the mother and the 15-year-old girl stepped in to defend her.
"Layla Rylands armed herself with a screwdriver," said Mr Donnell. One girl dressed in "Lilo and Stitch pyjamas" had a claw hammer and another girl also armed herself with a tool from a tool kit that was on the ground.
The girl in pyjamas threw a punch and hit the girl on the head with the hammer, causing injury. The 15-year-old hit that girl with a vacuum cleaner pipe.
The second girl and Rylands came towards her with tools in their hands. Rylands hit the 15-year-old girl on the side of her neck with the screwdriver, causing an injury, with blood pouring down the side of her head. "As a result of the hit to the head, she passed out for a short time before regaining consciousness," said Mr Donnell.
The girl's mother grabbed her daughter and dragged her into the house. "She telephoned the police and also requested an ambulance," said Mr Donnell. Rylands and the two other girls were arrested. The court heard that Rylands had a conviction in May last year for detaining a child without lawful authority.
Julia Baggs, mitigating, said that the dispute was not anything to do with Rylands. "She realises that it was a completely stupid and foolish thing to do," said Miss Baggs. "She mixes with friends who are much younger than her." This reflected her low "level of maturity".
Rylands told the court that she would "never, ever again" repeat her antics that day. She said of the violent incident: "I was walking by."
Judge Mark Bury said that Rylands was doing well on a community order. "You have got to make sure that you keep on with that progress and no more stupid things," said Judge Bury. Rylands was given a six-month monitoring order. The two girls who were involved in the violence also admitted affray and were sent back to the youth court to be sentenced.
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