A "terrified" mum feared she would be permanently disfigured by acid after she was squirted in the face with a mystery substance during a row over parking.
Claire Hallsworth from Stockport, Greater Manchester was leaving her home to go shopping with her six-year-old when she was covered in a blue liquid by Kim Marshall after they clashed over a car blocked in outside her home.
During the incident Marshall, 41, who was already drunk at 9am, was waving her arms about and shouting: "Who do you think you are talking to?" before squirting the mystery substance from a plastic bottle over the victim's face, hands and clothing.
Mrs Hallsworth, from Stockport, Greater Manchester began to suffer a bad reaction to the substance and was admitted to hospital for treatment.
The type of substance thrown in her face is not known.
She told police: "This incident has terrified me not only for myself but for my young son who was also scared. This happened so close to my address, somewhere I should feel safe. Now I am thinking of moving. I was in genuine fear for my life. I had no idea what the substance was and what effect it could have on me.
"I suffer from anxiety. This incident will have a detrimental effect on that, having seen this female regularly and the stress of not knowing what the substance was that was sprayed on me."
At Tameside magistrates court, Marshall from Offerton in Stockport was ordered to pay Mrs Hallsworth £250 compensation after she was convicted of common assault at an an earlier hearing.
She admitted unrelated charges possession of an offensive weapon, said to be a knuckleduster blade.
Miss Shazia Aslam, prosecuting, said: "Claire Hallsworth has resided at her address for two and half years and has had issues with the defendant, who is a neighbour who lives across the road. The matters started one-and-a-half years ago in the summer of 2020 says the abuse began around the parking space outside her address, which she says has been allocated to her. She has a son who is disabled.
"She politely asked the defendant's partner to move their car a bit just so that she could fit her vehicle in that space next to it but things then became very petty and he would always try to block her vehicle.
"Mrs Hallsworth always found it difficult to park in the space as they were using too much of the space so that her vehicle could not fit in. There was then a petty argument with name calling and swearing from the defendant.
"She saw the defendant immediately as she has loaded her vehicle, as the defendant was standing in the doorway of the block of flats.
"She was shouting and making a scene. The complainant says that the block of flats is almost directly opposite about 20m away. "She was standing at the external door pointing at her. She could not tell what she was shouting as the defendant was intoxicated and slurring her words.
"At that point she was holding her son's hand and the defendant started shouting something like 'Who do you think you are talking to?' She came out of the doorway towards the complainant in an aggressive manner.
"The complainant said, 'Are you drunk? It's only nine o'clock in the morning.' The defendant continued to shout at the complainant and was waving her arms around in the air. "The complainant stood at the side of the road with her son behind her.
"As the defendant was shouting and making movements towards her she placed her son into the vehicle so that he was away from the incident, so that he did not see anything or hear anything. Once in the vehicle the complainant said to her, 'We have not had any issues for over a year. I do not know what the problem is.'
"As she was talking, the defendant then held up one hand and squirted some unknown liquid in the complainant's face from a small plastic disposable bottle. The liquid was blue in colour. It was only sprayed once but a very large amount came out and the liquid covered her face, hands, neck, jumper and jeans.
"She was in complete shock as she did not see the bottom of her hands. She panicked. She had no idea what was in the bottle and was worried that it was some sort of acid.
"She ran to her car, while the defendant walked back to the flat. The complainant got out of the car and called for help. She was worried for the safety of her son. "The complainant did attend hospital as she had a reaction to the liquid that was sprayed.
"The defendant was then arrested for the offence. Upon a search of the defendant she was found in possession of a pendant with a knuckle duster with a blade on it. That was on her neck. She was subsequently arrested for that offence too."
Marshall had 28 offences on her record, the most recent being from 2011 for possession of class A drugs.
Defence solicitor Rebecca Clarke. Miss Clarke told the court: "She still maintains her innocence about the assault and does not accept responsibility. She intends to appeal that conviction but fully appreciates that she has been found guilty by the court.
"There is nothing of a similar nature on her record for 20 years. She has some significant issues with regard to support for her mental health and drug issues and her partner is registered as her carer.
"Ms Hallsworth has made very clear in her evidence was that she had not previously had an issue with Miss Marshall but outlined issues with Miss Marshall's partner, issues with parking, issues that are ongoing.
"She made clear that she'd not had any direct contact with Miss Marshall and that this was the first time there was any direct issue with her."
Marshall was also fined £100 fine and made subject of a 12-month community order with requirements she complies with six months of drug rehabilitation and 20 days of rehabilitation activity.
She was told to attend the Women's Problem Solving Court and pay £295 in costs and a victim surcharge. She was banned from contacting Mrs Hallsworth for a year under the terms of a restraining order.
