A mum screamed “I’ll f***ing kill you” as she inflicted severe injuries on another parent outside the schoolgate. Jessica Kitching, 25, attacked the mother of her daughter's friend in September 2023 over a reported dispute between their two children who had a falling out during the holidays. The victim was dragged by her ponytail on the ground as Kitching knelt on her chest before repeatedly kicking her in the face in the brawl.
Kitching then shouted "I know where you live. I'll f******g kill you" as she was pulled away from the frenzied attack outside the school. In the aftermath of the attack outside Willow Bank School, the victim went to Lancaster Royal Infirmary with grazes and bruises to her face where doctors said they suspected a hairline fracture to her nose. Preston Crown Court heard how she had begged Kitching to stop the vicious assault. In a victim statement, she said she was embarrassed and humiliated to have been attacked on the school run in front of other parents and children. She said she considered changing her daughter's school but did not think it was appropriate. She was also worried Kitching would turn up at her house, she said.
Since the attack, the children have played out together and there have been no further incidents, the judge was told. The court heard the attack was out of character for Kitching, who has no previous convictions. She could not explain why she had lost her temper but told a probation officer she was ashamed of what she had done and wanted to apologise to her victim. She pleaded guilty to ABH. Sentencing, Recorder Ayesha Siddiqi said: "This happened near a school and in the presence of children, You were unable to control your behaviour in front of the children. She must have been terrified by being pulled to the floor and kicked by you. There was the use of a shod foot as a weapon.
"This offence is so serious and your behaviour that day was so unacceptable that only a custodial sentence can be justified. I have heard you are effectively a single parent to your nine-year-old daughter. Your behaviour that day was appalling.". However the judge said there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation and Kitching's child would suffer if her mother was sent to prison. She handed down a sentence of 30 weeks suspended for 12 months with 15 days rehabilitation activities and 60 hours of unpaid work.
