A mother who broke her sister-in-law’s eye socket during a vicious pet shop catfight has avoided jail time.
Carys Wakefield, 38, launched the attack when she bumped into her relative in the dog food aisle of Pets at Home in Barry, South Wales.
A court heard the pair started hurling abuse at each other after crossing paths in the aisles of the store.
The row then escalated as Wakefield began repeatedly punching the victim.
Prosecutor Jac Brown said Wakefield had ‘some animosity’ towards her sister-in-law before the day of the attack.
Cardiff Crown Court heard horrified shoppers looked on as Wakefield started ‘homing in’ on her relative before a shop worker intervened.
Mr Brown said the victim was left covered in blood after suffering a broken eye socket in the attack at the Waterfront retail park.
She had to undergo surgery which involved having a permanent metal plate fitted in her face which has left a shadow.
In a victim impact statement, she said: ‘As a result of the incident, I had sleepless nights and headaches every so often.
Carys Wakefield, 38, (pictured) launched the attack when she bumped into her sister-in-law in the dog food aisle of Pets at Home in Barry, South Wales
A court heard the pair started hurling abuse at each other after crossing paths in the aisles of the store. The row then escalated as Wakefield (pictured) began repeatedly punching the victim
Wakefield was arrested in September 2023 on suspicion of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Pictured: Pets at Home in Barry, South Wales
‘I had a plate put behind my eyelid. I have numbness on the left side of my face. I am still reluctant to leave the house and when I go shopping I can’t go on my own.’
Wakefield was arrested in September 2023 on suspicion of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
That charge changed to assault inflicting grievous bodily harm.
The court heard she claimed she was acting in self defence before she pleaded guilty five days before her trial.
Judge Vanessa Francis said: ‘Although at one stage you were close you have had a number of personal circumstances very difficult for you and your daughter and over that period the relationship between you and the complainant has become strained.
‘You were effectively avoiding each other.
‘But on August 18, 2023, you and the complainant found yourselves in the same pet food store completely by chance. A number of verbal comments were made to one another and she was pushed by you.
‘Had matters stopped at that point and had the episode ended after a few insults and perhaps even some blows had been traded, arguably you would both have very much been in the wrong.
‘It would have been an unedifying set of behaviour from two middle-aged women who should have known better. But that didn’t happen because rather than walk away you homed in on her and punched her repeatedly to such an extent you fractured her eye socket.’
Wakefield, of Barry, was sentenced to one year and five months custody suspended for two years.
She must also complete a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement and pay a £100 fine.
