by Annette Wilson

awilson@thekmgroup.co.uk

Two sisters were assaulted and their home burgled by a woman who believed one was having an affair with her partner.

One victim was grabbed by the hair, kneed and punched and her sister also hit when she intervened.

The sisters later went to spend the night with friends and returned the next day to find their home at Westmarsh had been ransacked.

Police tracked down Sheree Chaney, 45, of Goatham Lane, Broadoak, Brede, Sussex, by tracing the DNA on an acrylic fingernail she left in the hall.

Chaney appeared at Canterbury Crown Court and admitted assaulting Rebecca and Alice Clay by beating and burglary in June.

She was sentenced to 36 weeks, suspended for 18 months with 150 hours unpaid work.

Judge Simon James told Chaney she had taken the law into her own hands and carried out a persistent violent attack.

But he took into account the emotional circumstances that had led Chaney to act out of character.

Prosector Bethan Charnley said the sisters were tenants of Damien Taylor-Wilson at Dol Marni, Clampits Farm, Westmarsh.

He was Chaney’s partner and she believed he was having an affair with Rebecca Clay.

She went to Dol Marni and when Miss Clay opened the door she was grabbed by the hair, kneed in the face and punched. When Alice Clay tried to pull her away, she was also hit.

A bottle was thrown at them and Chaney threw down picture frames which smashed before leaving.

They went to stay with friends and when they returned the next day the front door was open.

Items were on the floor including Rebecca’s dressing table contents.

A phone was also found containing threatening texts.

Chaney admitted being there but claimed she had been attacked. She admitted going back in the evening but denied going in.

Sentencing Chaney, Judge James said: “You are the mother of young children and following the break-down of your relationship, you took the law into your own hands when you believed your partner was having an affair.

“This was a persistent violent attack which left the younger victim with not insubstantial injuries. You continued to intimidate them by sending text messages.

“Later you broke in and damaged their personal property leaving the house effectively ransacked.

“Such intimidating violent behaviour must have been a terrifying ordeal for the victims who were entitled to feel safe and secure in their own home."

Because of circumstances at the time, Chaney had acted out of character but Judge James said she had only just avoided immediate custody.