Two drunk women repeatedly punched and kicked a love rival in a ‘terrifying’ ‘revenge attack’, a court has heard.

Holly Towell, of Glebelands, Thatcham, and Rochelle Black, of Ochil Close, Newbury, were today spared prison because the former is pregnant and the latter was told she would lose her job if she was locked up. 

The pair have now been told to stay away from their victim -- who miss Towell has known for eight years -- until further notice. 

READ MORE: How five police officers saved woman's life 

Prior to the July 2020 incident, Towell posted on Facebook asking her friends for the victim’s address. 

This was because of a perceived argument over a man Towell had been dating. 

Following a night out on July 12, Towell, 25, Black, 21, and a third woman, who was not prosecuted, came across the victim driving her car on Oakley Road. 

Towell opened the victim’s car door and told her to admit to a sexual act she believed she had done. 

The Thatcham woman then pulled the victim’s ponytail and punched her as she tried to remove her from her car. 

Black assisted by pulling the woman’s clothing and removing her from the vehicle. 

As she was taken out of the car, Towell stamped on the victim’s face as Black her to the floor. 

Towell then kicked her in the mouth, causing her lip to split and bleed. 

The victim tried to crawl under the car to escape the beatings and amidst the altercation, her phone fell from her pocket. 

Black repeatedly threw the victim’s phone on the floor, smashing the screen and eventually rendering it unusable. 

READ MORE: Train fare dodgers among latest residents in the dock

Towell prevented the victim from getting away by dragging her by her ponytail to a curb, causing her to “scream in pain”, according to prosecutor Honour Fitzgerald. 

The attack only came to an end when a passing vehicle startled the aggressors, allowing the victim to get back into her car and drive away. 

During the attack, Towell called the man she had been seeing to say: “Your missus is getting beaten up right now.”

In a victim personal statement read by Ms Fitzgerald, the victim said she could not afford a new phone and consequently went six months without a mobile. 

Speaking of the attack, she added: “This has significantly affected my life. My mental health has worsened because of that night. 

“I feel like I’m always looking over my shoulder in case they are following me and want to finish what they started.”

READ MORE: The five excuses drug-dealer gave police

The victim said she still has nightmares following the attack, in which she suffered a black eye, bruising, a cut lip, a large scratch behind her ear and a loss of hair. 

Ann-Marie Talbot, defending both Towell and Black, suggested there was a lack of planning surrounding the assault and the pair came across their victim by chance -- something Recorder Mr Ritchie, sentencing, rejected. 

She said: “They both deeply regret and are very sorry for their actions on that night and don’t attempt to minimise their behaviour. 

“After a sustained period of lockdown, these young women went out and drank far too much.”

Ms Talbot described both women’s behaviour as being “reprehensible” but “out-of-character”, as neither has previous convictions. 

The barrister said Towell was six months pregnant and Black, who played a “lesser role” in the assault, would lose her job as an apprentice hairdresser should she be sent to prison.

A suspended sentence for both defendants was requested by Ms Talbot in light of their current circumstances. 

Recorder Mr Ritchie agreed to the request, not before lambasting the defendants. 

He said their behaviour was “shocking to read about” and suggested the incident must have been “terrifying” for the victim. 

“This was a sustained and targeted assault”, Mr Ritchie said. 

“You were looking for revenge and you took revenge. You were out to give your victim a beating.”

Mr Ritchie handed Towell a 12-month prison sentence suspended for two years and Black a six-month prison sentence suspended for two years. 

Addressing Towell, he said: “Were it not for your caring responsibilities now and in the future, I would not hesitate in sending you to prison, but I’m just persuaded not to.”

Both defendants must take part in 20 rehabilitation activity days, with Towell handed an evening curfew for the next nine months and Black told to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.

The pair were given a restraining order banning them from contacting the victim until further notice. 

They were sentenced for assault occasioning actual bodily harm at Reading Crown Court on Monday, April 25.