A 60-year-old woman armed with a gardening tool told her stabbing victim it was “a shame” she did not have “a proper knife”.
An unrepentant Tina Thompsett made the sarcastic comment after grappling with Nicole O’Reilly in a car park at Swale council’s offices in Sittingbourne.
The car park and underground section of Swale House in East Street, Sittingbourne, was cordoned off by police. Picture: Joe Crossley
Maidstone Crown Court heard the two women, who knew each other, became involved in a violent altercation on August 27 this year.
Prosecutor Jeremy Kingsford explained how Ms O’Reilly was talking to a friend she had spotted at the car park in East Street when Thompsett “quickly became hostile”, telling Ms O’Reilly to “f*** off”.
In response, she was told to “p*** off”, sparking a verbal exchange in which Thompsett branded the woman a “c***” as she walked towards her.
However, the court was told she was actually walking away when Ms O’Reilly jumped over a wall into the car park, an area often frequented by the homeless.
It was then that the defendant immediately turned round and headed for Ms O’Reilly.
But as Ms O’Reilly’s friend and an unknown male tried to keep them apart, the women quickly began to grapple with each other, explained Mr Kingsford.
With the entire incident captured on CCTV, he told the court: “Ms O’Reilly appeared to pull the defendant’s hair, with the defendant making several swinging motions with her arm.
“The arm she was swinging contained a weapon, which the prosecution accept was a gardening tool. It punctured her body multiple times and caused her injury.
“The CCTV captured her swinging her arm at the complainant’s head, neck and torso.
“Ms O’Reilly could be heard remarking ‘She stabbed me with a knife’, and the defendant stated ‘No, it ain’t a knife. Unfortunately. Shame I ain’t got a proper knife.’.”
The car park was cordoned off by police. Picture: Joe Crossley
The two women were separated and the victim called 999, telling the operator she had been stabbed, was in pain, bleeding and needed help.
Thompsett, who also uses the name Tomsett and has 14 previous convictions for 26 offences including common assault in 2019, left the scene and was later found hiding behind a fire escape door at Sittingbourne Snooker Club.
Having been arrested and taken into custody, she told police: “I’ve got a f***ing great lump on my head where that b***h tried to glass me.
“After being ragged around by my hair, I punched her. She did that to me last week. It’s alright for her to slice me up, ain’t it?
“When it’s self-defence and I punch her, I get done for attempted murder. How does that work out?”
Violence broke out in the car park near Swale House. Picture: Joe Crossley
Thompsett, who was on bail at the time awaiting sentence for an offence of possessing a bladed article, was charged with wounding with intent.
She subsequently denied this but later admitted the alternative, less serious charge of unlawful wounding, which was accepted by the prosecution.
At her sentencing hearing on Wednesday (December 17), the court was told Ms O’Reilly suffered three puncture wounds to her collarbone and both sides of her back – one said to be in the kidney area – and which required stitches.
Mr Kingsford also spoke of the “shock” Ms O’Reilly had felt since the incident, and of being “uncomfortable” when she goes out and “more conscious” of her surroundings.
Before the CCTV footage was played in court, Thompsett, who appeared in court via video link with HMP Bronzefield, had urged the judge to “Please watch it”.
Police outside Swale House in East Street. Picture: Joe Crossley
She herself suffered injuries in the encounter, including a graze to the top of her head and marks to her hand and forearm.
In acknowledging that the probation service had concluded her risk could not be managed in the community, Ethan Dighton, defending, urged that the shortest possible jail term be imposed.
He told the court that although Thompsett, of Crown Quay Lane, Sittingbourne, had accepted her conduct was unlawful, there was a background between the women.
Furthermore, Mr Dighton said her previous offending was either dissimilar or far less serious.
But on the issue of whether she had been drinking at the time – an aggravating factor in terms of sentencing – it was Thompsett who candidly confirmed to the court that she had.
The incident happened outside Swale council’s offices in Sittingbourne. Picture: Joe Crossley
On jailing her for eight months, Judge Philip St.John-Stevens said he had taken account of the fact that by reason of her plea, she had no intent to cause her victim really serious injury and was not carrying a knife as initially alleged.
He also remarked that the CCTV “clearly set out the circumstances” of her offence and “provided a different view” to the narrative.
But the judge said having had her hair pulled, Thompsett then went “beyond self-defence” and struck out with the implement in her hand.
Due to time already spent in custody, Thompsett was likely to soon be released to serve the rest of her jail term on licence.
But having been told by Judge St.John-Stevens she would be subject to 12 months post-sentence supervision and a five-year restraining order in respect of her victim, Thompsett interrupted proceedings to ask: “Can you make sure she stays away from me.
The case was heard at Maidstone Crown Court. Stock picture
“Because she is the one who keeps coming. I don’t go to her.”
When she then asked “what am I supposed to do if she comes to me,” the judge advised: “Either tell her to go away, don’t engage with her at all or contact police.”
He then warned: “I wouldn’t start having a conversation with her because we don’t know how that conversation will end up.”
No orders for compensation or prosecution costs were made.
Police were again called to Swale council’s offices earlier this month after a debate over asylum seekers turned ugly.
A 12-year-old boy was arrested this week on suspicion of criminal damage.
The building had to close after the toilets were vandalised and taps left running, racking up a repair bill expected to run into thousands of pounds.
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