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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
National
Geoffrey Bennett

Mum-of-three attacked friend as she used tanning bed in hair salon

All hell broke out at Portishead's Beaujolais Hair Studio when a woman attacked her friend on a sun bed. Mum-of-three Samantha Baber had fallen out with the victim over social media, Bristol Crown Court heard.

The court heard Baber went into a tanning room, where her victim was using the bed. After punching her, Baber 'swept out' of the salon - striking computers and plants as she went - before driving into the garage, the court was told.

Baber, 36, of School Road in Wrington, pleaded guilty to assault, criminal damage and dangerous driving in September last year. Judge William Hart handed her 11 months' prison suspended for 18 months.

READ MORE: Prisoner charged with murdering inmate at HMP Bristol

The judge told her: "It was very frightening for everyone concerned and understandably so. Damage was undoubtedly significant. You made no comment when arrested. It was a relatively minor dispute which should never have led you to behave as you did."

Baber was handed a six-month Drug Rehabilitation Requirement and up to 30 days of rehabilitation. She was told to observe a two-month curfew ordering that she stay at home from 9pm to 6am and banned from driving for 12 months pending an extended driving test.

Tabitha Macfarlane, prosecuting, said Baber fell out with the woman and attacked her in the tanning room. Miss Macfarlane told the court: "She then swept out of the salon, striking computers and plants.

"A girl aged 15 and a pregnant client were there. They locked the doors, this frustrated Miss Baber and knocked on the windows and used foul language."

The court heard Baber then got into her car and, at low speed, bumped into a garage area causing some £3,000 damage. When police interviewed Baber, who has a conviction for driving with excess alcohol in 2016, she made no comment.

Caitlin Evans, defending, said the women were friends. But she told the court they had fallen out after the woman alleged Baber had taken advantage of her when the woman helped her through a difficult time.

Miss Evans said: "That seems to be the spark that caused the upset."

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