A Harrogate woman has been sentenced after punching another woman in the face.

Jamie-Leigh Kershaw, of Cheltenham Crescent in Harrogate, was sentenced for assault by beating.

Kershaw originally denied the offence but changed her plea on October 25, 2024.

Her sentencing hearing was held at Harrogate Magistrates Court on Thursday (April 3).

Kaye Barnard, prosecuting, told the court the 24-year-old defendant and another person were at a friend’s house in Norton, near Malton, on July 29 last year.

The complainant, a named woman, asked the group to turn their music down at around 11.45pm.

The court heard Kershaw and the other person left the house to confront the complainant.

“They were shouting at her and goading her to fight”, Ms Barnard said.

An altercation broke out between the parties and Kershaw then “got into a physical fight” with the complainant.

Ms Barnard told the court:

The complainant suffered grazing to her left cheek and scratches on her body.

Andrew Tinning, defending, told the court Kershaw had a “pretty terrible childhood”.

A pre-sentence report was prepared ahead of the hearing but was not read out in court.

The court heard Kershaw has a substantial criminal history, but a lot of the offences she has been convicted for took place when she was younger.

Mr Tinning said the defendant is now “genuinely trying to put that life behind her”.

She was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the offence, which Mr Tinning described as a “dispute over music that got out of hand”.

The magistrates sentenced Kershaw to an 18-month community order, during which she must complete up to 30 rehabilitation activity days.

She was also ordered to pay £364 to the court, which includes a £114 surcharge, £100 in prosecution costs, £50 compensation and a £100 fine.