PREMIUM
A nursing assistant “exploded into violence” and attacked her teenage daughter after she came home to find her vaping.
The woman, who can’t be named to protect the identity of her daughter, unleashed a torrent of blows on the girl when she found her puffing away on the electronic cigarette at their address in Dartford.
She hit her daughter around the head, scratched her neck and left her with bruises to her face.
Her mother, who works at a top London Hospital, has been suspended since attacking the girl, who was 15 at the time.
She was sentenced at Medway Magistrates’ Court on August 18 after admitting assault occasioning them actual bodily harm in March.
Dylan Bradshaw, prosecuting, said: “The victim is at the back of the court.
“She (the defendant) works as a nursing assistant and approached a colleague for a one-to-one meeting.
“During the meeting, she told the person she had left her house and had returned at about 6pm and found her daughter using a vape.
“This profoundly upset her. She said she blacked out and then told the colleague she hadn’t wanted to hurt her and regretted hitting her.”
The court also heard that when the woman was arrested over the incident and interviewed, she admitted to officers that her “anger came over her” during the physical altercation.
Mr Bradshaw added: “She came home at 6pm, found her daughter vaping and exploded into violence.
“She has no previous convictions, so it was out of character. Her daughter did have exams the next day.”
Magistrates also heard the mother had reacted the way she did as she was worried her daughter was being coerced by others to vape.
Since the incident, there have been no other violent occurrences.
It was also revealed the daughter had since returned home to live with her mother again and that her mother had undertaken courses so she wouldn’t erupt in anger again.
The court heard she now knows how to deal with issues appropriately and that her relationship with her daughter was stronger than ever.
The bench was also told she was deeply remorseful for what had happened and was waiting to hear what actions her employer would take after the case, as she was still suspended from her nursing role.
Magistrates decided to go along with the recommendation of the pre-sentencing report and gave her a 12 month community order, which will see her complete 200 hours of unpaid work as well as 20 rehabilitation sessions.
She was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £114 and £85 court costs.
