Woman who repeatedly punched defenceless man in strip club avoids jail 'because she's a mum'

Aug 20, 2023

The victim ended up with a broken jaw

The latest crime and court news from Leicester and Leicestershire

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A woman who repeatedly punched a defenceless man during an attack in a strip club has avoided time in prison mostly because she is a mum, a court heard. Whitney Freeman struck the victim several times at the Honey Club in Solihull after initially being attacked by the two men she was with.

The man was left with a broken jaw and had to be on a liquid diet for four months, with Freeman being the first person to be identified in the incident. She later gave the names of two other men she was with on the night back in December 2019, but to date she is the only one to be prosecuted.

The 30-year-old, of Fairacres Coventry Road in Lutterworth, admitted to inflicting grievous bodily harm and, at Birmingham Crown Court on Tuesday, she was handed a 22-month sentence suspended for 21 months. Recorder Eugene Egan ruled not to send her to prison immediately, as she is the sole carer for her young son and had a low risk of reoffending, the Birmingham Mail reports.

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He told the court: "You are the sole carer for your two-year-old son, there is a relatively low risk of reoffending and you can be managed in the community."

The attack happened back on December 8, 2019, when the victim entered the Honey Club on Solihull High Street in the early hours of the morning after watching a football match in the town centre the previous evening. Prosecutor Alison Scott-Jones told the court he sat in a booth with a group of strangers while his friend went to the bar, with them all seeming to be in "good spirits".

She said: "The defendant did not appear to be involved in a conversation with the victim but male number one sitting next to Ms Freeman stood up and punched the victim to the face. The victim fell backwards.

"The second male punched him to the head. There appears to be five punches. The victim isn't knocked to the floor he's knocked to the bench.

"At this time the defendant punches the victim when he's helpless. The punches are seen to be to the head. There are several punches although it is difficult to tell how many because the footage is very jittery."

Ms Scott-Jones added: "He appears to be unable to protect himself or defend himself and possibly maybe unconscious."

The court then heard how the victim was left in 'terrible pain' from the incident, with him requiring surgery and having to eat soft food for four months. He also became worried about social functions and people being too close to him.

Staff identified Freeman who was interviewed by police the following February, with Freeman claiming the victim pushed her and she had punched him once to defend herself. However, when she was shown the CCTV footage of the full attack, she admitted she was 'disgusted' with her behaviour.

Martin Liddiard, defending, said: "In February 2020 she had given the names of the other two men involved. Whatever you make of it the Crown said: 'No we're not interested in going after the people who did cause the injury'.

"The Crown were not interested. She offered to give evidence against the other two. The victim is quite right to say this has been going on for three years and he would like to get it over and done with. Three years to charge her is extraordinary. She was interviewed two months later and acknowledged her role."

Mr Liddiard added that Freeman had become a mother since the incident and was in receipt of Universal Credit. He confirmed she could pay compensation because 'her dad will help her'.

Freeman was ordered to complete 20 days of rehabilitation activity, 180 hours of unpaid work and pay £500 compensation to the victim.