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Sword threat victim left frozen with fear
A YOUNG woman feared for her life when she was confronted by three teenage girls wielding a Samurai sword and pieces of wood.
Agata Kolano was "frozen with fear" when she was threatened at her parents' home on Osborne Road, South Shore, Blackpool.
Gemma Winterbottom, 19, a mother-of-one, of Osborne Road, admitted affray when she appeared before Preston Crown Court.
She was sentenced to a 12-month community order with 12 months supervision.
Judge Edward Slinger told her: "This is a serious matter. You got yourself involved in disgraceful conduct of this kind, which contributed to this lady being frozen with fear."
The two other girls involved in the incident, who cannot be named for legal reasons, received 10-month and nine-month referral orders at the Youth Court. One girl had previously admitted possessing a Samurai sword as an offensive weapon and causing racially aggravated damage.
The other girl admitted possession of a piece of wood as an offensive weapon.
Duncan Birrell, prosecuting, told the court Miss Kolano was doing some work at home on May 27 when she heard banging around 7.15pm.
As she was not expecting anyone, she armed herself with a stick and, when she opened the back door, she was confronted by the two teenage girls.
Mr Birrell said: "Both were extremely aggressive and unpleasant. It was racially abusive behaviour."
An argument developed and Winterbottom joined in and armed herself with a piece of wood but did not use any violence.
Mr Birrell added: "This was plainly a very distressing and frightening incident for Miss Kolano."
In a statement, Miss Kolano, an accountant, described how she felt she would lose her life and was left crying and shaking. She could not sleep that night or for days afterwards.
Paul Humphries, defending, said Winterbottom became involved because she feared for the two girls, but admitted her response was inappropriate.
He said: "She assisted others, but in an unfortunate fashion. A knife had been thrown at a door. The defendant left before there was any sign of a knife."
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Monday 13 February 2012
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