A Newport woman said she felt “violated” after being robbed in her home hours after it was burgled, a court heard yesterday.
Defendant Leanne Preece, 29, of Hopkins Walk, Ringland, is on trial at Newport Crown Court, denying charges of robbery and intimidation, from October 6 and 12 2009.
Complainant Anna James, also of Hopkins Walk, told the court she returned to her flat at 8pm on October 6, to find her front door “kicked in”. A music centre, shoes and clothes were missing, so she called the police.
After officers left at 9.30pm, Miss James said Preece and an unknown man barged in through the broken front door.
She was sat in the living room and said the defendant walked up to her shouting “you grassed me up to police”.
Miss James added: “She started hitting me in the face, scratching me, before trying to wrestle my bag off me.”
The court heard how Miss James stood up but was hit on to the floor by Preece, hitting her head on a radiator.
Her bag- containing £300 in cash, plus cash cards- was then wrestled off her by Preece and the man, the court heard. They left her with facial bruises and scratches.
Miss James said: “I felt violated and unsafe in my home.”
Preece was arrested outside Ringland Post Office on October 12 after being identified there by Miss James. Defence barrister Jane Rowley said, after being taunted by Miss James, Preece told her “I’ll hit you when I get out”.
The barrister said Preece was invited into Miss James’ house on October 6 and the complainant started striking her following an argument between the friends.
She said Preece was trying to defend herself.
She read out Miss James’ convictions, including one for assaulting a police officer after spitting in his eye and another for hitting an officer in the groin after being arrested for being drunk and disorderly.
Miss Rowley said: “You become violent when you’ve been drinking”, adding: “You’re trying to cover up the fact you became abusive to Leanne in drink.”
Proceeding.
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