Offender with 41 previous convictions Sarah Beech gets community service over 'disgusting' attack on woman because she bumped into her in a pub

Details were given to Ballymena Magistrates' Court where Sarah Beech (34), with an address listed as River View in Ballymena, was sentenced for two assaults and being disorderly on October 27 in 2024.

The court was told a woman was at licensed premises and accidentally bumped into Beech.

At 1.30am Beech was "waiting outside" and said: "Don't ever bump into me again".

The woman said it had been accidental but Beech punched her to the face and dragged her to the ground.

The woman was kicked and punched by the defendant.

Door staff intervened, and when the woman got up another woman – who was given a diversionary disposal – poured liquid over the woman and "had banged her head off the wall".

The woman, "as a result of banging her head off the ground takes some sort of seizure," and was unconscious for a time, a prosecutor said.

She was taken to hospital by ambulance.

Another woman tried to calm things down but Beech had thrown "multiple" punches.

That woman ended up on ground and was "kicked in the face" multiple times.

Beech and two other females were involved, the court was told.

The third person had not been identified, it was said.

A defence solicitor said the defendant had a "somewhat chaotic life" and at the time she was in a "particularly black place".

On the night in question she had been drinking alcohol and she accepted she had behaved in a "disgusting" manner but "is trying to put her life together again" and wished to apologise for what happened.

In court last Thursday, district judge Nigel Broderick told Beech: "This was a vicious attack, not just by you, but by two others".

He said the defendant had 41 previous convictions and the victims were significantly affected both physically and emotionally.

However he said the case did not come to court until October last year and in the intervening period – last May – Beech had received a jail sentence for another matter.

If the current case had been dealt with in connection with the May sentencing, the judge said it was unclear if the 10-month sentence last May would have been increased.

He said there was "every reason" why the defendant should be jailed for the Larne attack but "not without significant hesitation" and, as a "direct alternative" to prison, he handed down an Enhanced Combination Order of 18 months of probation and 100 hours of community service, which has a "zero tolerance policy".