A trainee florist punched a fellow student in the face and threw a protein drink at her during an argument over a Christmas wreath in a flower arranging class. Housewife Lorraine Jae, 51, assaulted Tracey Musker after having a meltdown in a college classroom and grabbing her coat, following criticism of her coursework by their tutor.
Jae, from Leigh, Greater Manchester, pleaded guilty to assault by beating at Liverpool Magistrates' Court. She was ordered to pay Miss Musker £200 in compensation and was fined £300 plus £205 in costs and a victim surcharge. Her husband was in court to support her.
Argument over Christmas wreath
The incident happened on December 11 last year, when the pair were in a classroom at St Helens College in Merseyside getting feedback on their floristry diploma coursework. The class is thought to have involved creating Christmas wreaths made from holly, ivy and pine cones.
Prosecutor Tony Carey said Jae became involved in an argument with the course tutor at about 10am. When Miss Musker tried to calm the situation, Jae told her to "shut the f**k up." Miss Musker told her not to speak to her in that manner and not to speak to her again, and Jae began picking up her belongings.
As Jae went to collect her coat from behind Miss Musker, she directed further verbal abuse at her. Miss Musker laughed it off, but while she was still sitting at her desk, Jae ran over and punched her in the face.
When Miss Musker stood up, Jae picked up a full protein drink carton from her desk and threw it at her, hitting her on the chin. Another student intervened before Jae ran out of the classroom. She was subsequently suspended from her college course.
Miss Musker suffered a bruised and cut chin and a mark on her lip. She was given first aid at the scene but did not require hospital treatment.
Mitigation and sentencing
The court heard that Jae, who is currently waiting for a hip operation, had no previous convictions.
Her lawyer, Helen Clarke, said in mitigation that the drink was in a carton rather than a glass bottle. She said the argument with the course tutor related to a dispute over coursework which Jae believed she had completed to a satisfactory standard, and that Miss Musker then became involved.
"Clearly it was a short-lived matter and a heat of the moment reaction when the defendant felt extremely frustrated," Clarke said. She told the court Jae had been studying the course for some time, that it had not been the best experience and that she had faced problems along the way.
"Nevertheless she persevered hoping to achieve a qualification as she was unable to continue other work she had been doing for many years," Clarke said. "She thought this would be a new start but clearly it did not happen in that way."
Clarke added that the incident happened out of character and that Jae had learnt her lesson, and said she was sorry and apologetic to Miss Musker.
Sentencing Jae, District Judge James Clarke told her: "It would appear that this was a bad situation that went in the wrong direction. It is not a reflection of your personality."
