A MOTHER who assaulted a pregnant woman in front of her own children struck her victim over the head with a wine bottle and pulled her hair extensions out.

Nikki Griggs, 31, launched an attack on a love rival after drinking alcohol at an address in Harwich in February last year.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard the victim was in a relationship with Griggs’ ex-partner and was pregnant with his child.

The two women “engaged in some frivolities”, but over the course of the evening Griggs “suddenly flipped out” and became aggressive.

The court heard Griggs’ three children were present.

Griggs grabbed the victim’s hair and pulled her hair extensions out, before kicking her repeatedly to her stomach.

She placed her thumbs into her eyes, scratched her, struck her over the head with an empty wine bottle and threw her into a mirror, causing it to smash.

The victim ran to a neighbour’s home for help, but the attack continued.

When the police arrived, Griggs was uncooperative and tried to bite an officer on the hand.

In police interview, she said she had tried to clear the air with the victim, but “things became heated and emotive”.

Griggs admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm, assaulting an emergency worker and criminal damage.

She also admitted harassment and threatening to cause criminal damage in relation to her ex-partner.

She sent unwanted text messages and phone calls to the victim, leading to him blocking her phone number and social media profiles.

The court heard on September 18 last year the man received a message on Facebook threatening damage to his front door.

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Barry Gilbert, mitigating, said Griggs had struggled with drug use in the past and committed the offences because of a drinking problem.

He said a pre-sentence report found her three children would be “dramatically affected” if she were to be sent to prison.

“Everything she is alleged to have done, she has to use the standard expression, put her hands up to straight away,” he said.

“She hasn’t wasted anybody’s time with lies or denials.

“Essentially Miss Griggs as can be seen from her previous convictions, and as can be seen on this occasion, has had a problem with drink.”

He said a suspended sentence order aimed at rehabilitation would help Griggs put her life back in order.

“These incidents seem to have arisen, because of the former relationship and the two incidents are firmly routed in that.

“If she can abide by the restraining order and if with the assistance of probation, put her life back in order, the family will remain a unit, the children won’t be damaged and hopefully the courts won’t be troubled anymore.”

Judge Christopher Morgan agreed to suspend a 14-month prison sentence for 21 months.

Griggs must complete a 60-day rehabilitation activity requirement and will remain the subject of a restraining order for two years.

Judge Morgan said: “You, in drink, assaulted [the victim] in her home, the offences of course aggravated by the fact you were in alcohol at the time and also children were present including your own.

“The author of pre-sentence report makes it quite plain.

"Despite the fact you can care for your children, your chaotic lifestyle and drinking puts them at constant risk of serious harm and it did so on this occasion though I recognise none of the children were seriously harmed.

"Whatever it does to a child to see a parent acting in this way, I leave others to judge."

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