Pair assaulted Walcot flatmate in row over rent (From Swindon Advertiser)

Swindon pair assaulted flatmate in row over rent

10:08am Wednesday 20th March 2013 in News

A PAIR of women who frogmarched a flatmate to the cash machine in a row over rent have admitted assaulting her.

Tiffany Ballard and Samantha Mumford had been due to face trial at Swindon Crown Court on a charge of assault with intent to rob.

But after the pair pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm, prosecutors said they would not seek a trial on the more serious charge.

Now the pair have been warned they could be facing a jail term for the incident on March 31 last year.

Ballard, 23, and Mumford, 25, who live together in Somerville Road, Walcot, admitted carrying out the offence on Nerissa Scarlett.

Hannah Squire, prosecuting, said: “There is no dispute that she was effectively being frogmarched to a cashpoint and the assault took place on that journey.”

Kevin Marland, defending, said: “It was an assault that started in the flat and spilled out on to the street and on to the cash machine.”

Judge Euan Ambrose adjourned the case until April 12, releasing the pair on conditional bail until then.

He told them: “Your bail continues as before but the fact that I am granting you bail and the fact that I am ordering reports doesn’t mean that the court won’t be considering all types of sentence next time. Don’t read anything into the granting of bail.”