Sunderland woman caused 'significant injury' ripping out neighbour's hair in alley altercation

Demi Curry, 26, of Kidsgrove Square, carried out the attack on Lisa Siddall after they went into an alley at the rear of their properties on Sunday, July 21, South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court heard.

Blurred CCTV images show there was tugging between the pair, and magistrates were told the attack then happened.

Prosecutor Paul Anderson said: “The two parties are next door neighbours. The incident took place in an alley at the back of the property.

“There’s some footage, which is rather blurred, which shows a tugging between them and this lady goes beyond what would be seen as reasonable self-defence.

“Hair is ripped out. It may never grow back to the level it was. There’s a significant injury.”

Gerry Armstrong, defending, said: “The CCTV was very inconclusive I must say. It lasts only few seconds and shows two people.

“Ms Curry got into some verbal altercation. There have been no further incidents since then.”

Magistrates sentenced Curry, who pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, to a 12-month community order to include 20 days’ rehabilitation work with the Probation Service and 135 hours of unpaid work.

She must also pay Ms Siddall £100 compensation and £85 court costs and a £90 victim surcharge.