A woman smashed up her “stepmother’s” home with a chisel then punched her. Rebecca Culshaw had been drinking before the incident in Gwynedd.
The 40-year-old, of Glan Ogwen, Bethesda, admitted burglary and assault by beating but a judge today said she could be rehabilitated and suspended her two-year jail sentence for two years. Prosecutor Ember Wong told Caernarfon Crown Court that Kevin Culshaw – who is the defendant’s father – and Beverley Griffiths live together in Bethesda.
On October 7 Ms Griffiths was watching rugby on TV at 3.15pm when she heard banging. She went to investigate and found Rebecca Culshaw holding a chisel in the kitchen.
Read more: Popular tourist attraction Rhyl SeaQuarium is to close permanently
Read more: Snow set to arrive in Wales this week as temperatures plummet below freezing
The defendant asked Ms Griffiths: “Where is my dad?” She was told he was at the rugby club. The prosecutor said: “The defendant waved the chisel and walked towards Ms Griffiths.
“Ms Culshaw said ‘this is your fault. He always takes your side’. “
The court heard Ms Griffiths backed away as Culshaw – who appeared drunk – smashed a door panel, a glass painting and a plant pot on a window sill with the chisel. Ms Griffiths urged her not to smash the TV but Culshaw said she would if she wanted to.
Culshaw left out the back door but Ms Griffiths followed around the house to the front. The defendant was shouting and punched Ms Griffiths – who was described as “effectively her stepmother” – in the face.
Police were called and officers arrested Culshaw at her own home soon afterwards. She was intoxicated and had to be helped into a police car, added the prosecutor.
In an interview the defendant said she had had two bottles of wine and couldn’t remember much about the incident. She accepted the chisel was hers.
In a victim statement Ms Griffiths said a bruise on her cheek from the punch has healed but she gets flashbacks. She had been “like a mother” to the defendant.
There had been “tension” in the family as a result of Ms Griffiths reporting the events, and a strain between herself and her partner Mr Culshaw. She fears the repercussions.
Jemma Gordon, defending, said her client’s mother had died unexpectedly and she had increased her drinking. She knows alcohol is the trigger for issues and wants help.
The judge Her Honour Nicola Saffman told mum-of-two Culshaw, who has no previous convictions, she would suspend the two-year sentence for burglary but she must attend an alcohol treatment programme for six months.
She must also wear an alcohol abstinence monitoring tag for 120 days and do 20 days of rehabilitation activity. She was given one-month in jail, suspended for two years, to run concurrently for the assault.
The judge, who heard Ms Griffiths is frightened of Culshaw, also made a five-year restraining order prohibiting the defendant from contacting her victim or going to her home.
North Wales Live has launched a WhatsApp community group where you can get the latest stories delivered straight to your phone
Dr. Thomas Hughes is a UK-based scientist and science communicator who makes complex topics accessible to readers. His articles explore breakthroughs in various scientific disciplines, from space exploration to cutting-edge research.
