Women handed community sentences for car park assault

The Croydon Guardian reports on the sentencing of two women who were found guilty of an attack on a Kosovan woman in a Lidl car park.

Natalie Sharp and Christine Bicknell were convicted at Croydon Crown Court of racially aggravated assault and racially aggravated harassment, respectively, last week.

Their victim, Selvete Selmani was left with two black eyes after Sharp punched her three times in the head, kicked her legs and grabbed her by the hair while verbally abusing her, according to reports of last week’s court proceedings.

Appearing in court for sentencing, the two women escaped a custodial sentence.

Natalie Sharp is the mother of the murdered schoolgirl, Tia Sharp.

Passing sentence, Judge Sonya Woodley QC said: “I accept you have had a difficult time in the last few years, but this kind of behaviour must not take place.”

Sharp was sentenced to complete 60 hours unpaid work in the next 12 months and ordered to pay £40 compensation.

Bicknell was ordered to do 40 hours unpaid work in the next year. Both were told they must pay a £60 victim surcharge.