A MUM hit who hit another woman with “hammer-fist” blows because she had slapped her brother-in-law’s face was advised by a magistrate to keep out of other people’s arguments.

Carmel Panesh punched Jess-ica Rowberry in the face while she was sitting in a car after the two got into an argument outside the Star and Garter ub in Droitwich.

Mother-of-two Panesh, aged 23, of Spring Lane, Worcester, admitted assault by beating at Worcester Magistrates Court following the scuffle on Friday, May 29.

Lisa Mayne, prosecuting, said: “She opened the complainant’s car door and grabbed her by the hair, holding her out of the vehicle and proceeding to punch her two or three times in a downward hammer-fist action. The complainant suffered bruising to her right eye, scratches to her chin, forehead and chest.”

Mark, Sheward, defending, said Panesh had not drunk much on the evening of the attack and had been “incensed” when her brother-in-law was struck.

He added: “Her brother-in-law was struck across the face by the injured party and then she went over to remonstrate with the woman.

“She says she was grabbed and pulled into a car and there was a physical confrontation between them. Having got out of the car and extricated herself from that position, she stood outside the car but then approached again, reached in and pulled this lady’s hair. She accepts she struck her to the face.

“That’s not self-defence, it’s retaliation. It is out of character. She was incensed that this woman had slapped the man she was with across the face.

“She accepts responsibility. She recognises she did wrong and could have walked away but she didn’t.”

Mr Sheward said Panesh was also injured in the initial scuffle, suffering a bloody nose and swelling to her forehead.

Magistrates fined Panesh £235, ordered her to pay £50 prosecution costs and £75 compensation to the victim.

The chairman of the bench, Nicola Phillips, said: “Can we advise you not to get involved in other people’s arguments? It’s best to take a step back and take a deep breath and think about what you’re doing before you actually do it.”

Your Worcester News reporter was the only member of the media at this court hearing.