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Journalism student could face jail over pub melee which scarred woman

A would-be journalist could be facing jail after leaving a woman with facial scars in a pub melee.

Katie Mary Bevan, who is in her second year of a journalism degree course at the University of Central Lancashire, is alleged to have bitten her victim’s cheek in the assault, which she claimed was sparked off by a remark about her sexuality.

North Wales daily The Leader reported that a trial was due to be held, but Bevan changed her plea at Flintshire Magistrates Court, in Mold, on Monday.

Bevan, 26, admitted a charge of assault, although she continued to deny having bitten her victim.

Flintshire Magistrates Court

Flintshire Magistrates Court

The court heard that on 16 July last year Bevan was in the beer garden of Mold’s Red Lion pub when she pushed past Sophie Beddows and her party, knocking their beer.

Miss Beddows said “what’s her problem?” and it was alleged the defendant returned and punched her to the face, causing the victim to fall to her knees where she was further punched with a clenched fist.

The prosecution claimed Bevan then reached around and bit her cheek, and the victim was left with a cut under her eye, bruising to the cheek and injuries to her mouth, as well as lumps to the right side of the head.

Bevan denied pushing past the group and Simon Simmons, defending, said that was not shown in the footage.

The defence alleged that a remark had been made questioning the defendant’s sexuality, which Miss Beddows denied, although Bevan accepted causing all her victim’s injuries.

Mr Simmons said there had been a melee and that his client accepted striking Miss Beddows, but denied biting and swabs later taken had proved negative.

He added his client was a “pleasant and intelligent young lady who had moved to Preston to study journalism” who had gone away from the area, had a new partner, had not re-offended and had moved on and now had a better life.

Magistrates heard that the defendant had previous convictions for 14 offences – but none for violence – and was at the time on a community order.

They adjourned sentence on an all options basis for a pre-sentence report and warned that it did cross the custody threshold.

3 comments

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  • January 26, 2017 at 9:49 am
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    She might find it hard to get a job, not because of the bust-up in the pub but the previous convictions for 14 offences and the community order.

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  • January 26, 2017 at 1:29 pm
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    I don’t think this should be a bar to her getting a job by any means either. I’ve known fist fights in newsrooms, they were the best ones.

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