Woman with mental health problems attacked two pensioners in the street because they were 'evil'

Chesterfield magistrates’ court heard on Tuesday, August 2, how Sharon Holland, 45, of Schoolfield Close, Bolsover, pushed an 84-year-old woman over and three days later punched a man aged in his 90s who had been on a mobility scooter.

Prosecuting solicitor John Cooper said: “Mrs Grace Thompson is 84-years-old and she said she was walking through the town centre at Hill Top, Bolsover, when she became aware of a female talking behind her.

“The complainant said she heard someone say ‘evil bitch’ and Mrs Thompson moved out of the way into scaffolding and turned around and saw the female and then she said she was pushed with some force causing her to fall over and she banged her knee and elbow.”

During the second incident retired Jack Inger had been on a mobility scooter, at Market Place, Bolsover, when he was attacked three days later.

Mr Cooper added: “He felt a blow to the back of his head and heard a voice saying ‘you are a real b*****d’ and he continued to be hit three times and she continued shouting and swearing at him.”

Holland said to police she did it because her victims were “evil” and she was sectioned for a period after seeing a doctor following her arrest.

She later told officers she was suffering with depression and she could not control how she was behaving and something had been telling her that the elderly woman was evil but she realises that this was wrong.

Holland initially denied to police that she had struck Mr Inger but later accepted she must have attacked him after hearing the assault had been witnessed.

Mr Cooper added that Holland revealed that she now feels better after being prescribed medication and she is getting mental health support.

Holland pleaded guilty to the two assaults committed on March 8 and 11 and she also admitted stealing groceries from a Co-op, at Bolsover, on February 29, and from Fulton Foods, at Bolsover, March 9.

Defence solicitor David Gittins said Holland committed offences because she was suffering an episode and she was sectioned for a month.

Mr Gittins added that Mr Inger deserved amazing credit because despite being attacked he stated that he wanted Holland to get help.

The defence solicitor also stated that if it were not for Holland’s mental health problems she would not be committing these crimes.

Magistrates - who recognised Holland was suffering with mental health difficulties - sentenced her to a two-year conditional discharge and ordered her to pay £410.94 in compensation.

But they warned Holland that if she commits another offence in the next two years she will be re-sentenced for these four offences and any new crime.