More on KentOnline
Home Canterbury News Article
A daughter who glassed her own mother in a row over milk during lockdown has avoided jail.
Audrey Baut, 23, of Aylesham, slashed her mum twice after she refused to drive to a shop in the snow.
The former medical assistant tried convincing police her mother and sister attacked her after her arrest.
But Baut was handed a suspended prison sentence at Canterbury Crown Court after admitting unlawful wounding and assault by beating.
The court heard the ex-retail worker flew into a rage at her mother in February during lockdown after milk ran out.
Prosecutor Daniel Cohen explained: “All three parties were at the home address, the atmosphere during the day had been a positive one, photos had been taken of the snow.
“Later in the evening however, things took a turn for the worse.
“At that point the defendant smashed a glass and proceeded to cut her mother twice..."
“The defendant was told if she insists on getting milk she would have to go to the shop. The defendant shouted “don’t tell me what to do.”
“At some point the defendant went upstairs, the dispute continued and her mother grabbed her by the arm by way of placating her.
“At that point the defendant smashed a glass and proceeded to cut her mother twice, on her arm and hand, causing two relatively small wounds but wounds nonetheless.”
The court heard when Baut’s sister tried intervening, Baut grabbed and pulled her hair.
Baut’s mum was treated for the wounds at a nearby hospital, neither she nor her sister since wished to assist the prosecution.
The court heard Baut “played the victim” with the probation services and displayed “irritation and annoyance” during a pre-sentence interview.
But James Burke, mitigating, said Baut had become “suspicious of the authorities” after seeking refuge in the UK from Zimbabwe.
“I concede, there is still work to be done as regards to her rehabilitating herself, and accepting however injurious it is to her own feelings, responsibility for what she’s done and the way forward, is to address that with people who can help her,” he added.
Judge Simon James handed Baut, of Cherry Blossom Way, nine months custody suspended for 18 months and 25 rehabilitation requirement days.
Baut has already spent six weeks on remand and five months curfew.
For information on how we can report on court proceedings, click here.
To get the latest updates in ongoing cases, police appeals and criminals put behind bars, click here