Woman escapes jail over racial attack (From Warrington Guardian)

Woman escapes jail over racial attack

A WOMAN, who was involved in a vicious racial assault in Warrington, escaped jail because of the "concerted efforts" she has made to change her life.

Donna Lee, aged 29, of Sexton Avenue, Parr, escaped a two-year prison sentence, at Warrington Crown Court on Friday, after pleading guilty to two counts of racially aggravated assault.

She admitted taking part in a racist attack on a Muslim priest and his friend as they walked through Bank Park after prayers last September.

But Judge David Hale said it would not be in the public interest to jeopardise the progress she had made by imprisoning her and, instead, gave her a two-year community rehabilitation order.

Karl Scholz, prosecuting, said that Lee punched and kicked Imam Matloob Ahmed, aged 26, during the attack last year.

The court heard how Lee admitted to being "bladdered" when joining in the attack on Mr Ahmed, the spiritual leader of the Warrington mosque, and his friend Sajad Darr, aged 24. In the attack Mr Darr had fingers pushed into his eyes, was punched in the face and repeatedly kicked as he lay on the ground while one person said "'kill the Paki and run".

Mr Ahmed tried to ring the police but was hit in the mouth with a bottle and was hospitalised for eight days.

Paul Becker, representing Lee, said that she was not a racist but had become involved in a racist attack.

Judge Hale said that since the offence, Lee had found herself a home, had stopped misusing drugs and alcohol, and had recovered one of her two children from care.

Two men were sentenced to three years and three-and-a-half years in prison for the attack at Warrington Crown Court in October.