Woman who threw vodka bottle at two-year-old girl in Skegness jailed
41-year-old Samantha Gardiner tormented multiple people out in Skegness
A Skegness woman who threw a vodka bottle at a two-year-old girl's head, swung her handbag at a passerby, abused two police officers, and said racial slurs in a video posted on Facebook has been jailed for a year.
Lincoln Magistrates' Court heard how on 28 February this year, 41-year-old Samantha Gardiner threw a vodka bottle at a two-year-old girl being lifted onto an arcade ride in Skegness.
The child was hit on the side of her head, leaving her with a large lump and bruising.
Investigations later revealed that Gardiner was with a man and woman in the arcade before this, and was recorded saying racial slurs which were posted on Facebook.
After she assaulted the two-year-old, she randomly and intentionally hit a member of the public with her handbag, hitting him on the side of his head.
Gardiner was later arrested.
She verbally abused two officers on the way to Skegness police custody suite.
When they arrived, she became violent, scratching and bruising one officer and spitting at the other.
Gardiner, of Clarke Way, Southview Leisure Park, Skegness, pleaded guilty to:
- Assault a person - ABH (10 months imprisonment)
- Two counts of assaulting a constable in the execution of his / her duty (two months concurrent for each count, to run consecutively to the 10 months for the ABH)
- Assault by beating (one month concurrent)
- Racially / religiously aggravated harassment (no separate penalty)
- Two counts of using threatening / abusive words / behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress (one week concurrent for each count)
- One count of using threatening / abusive words / behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress (no separate penalty)
- She also breached previous bail conditions (two more one month concurrent sentences)
Sergeant Billy Spence said:
"This woman’s behaviour was unpredictable and alarming for all those who encountered her that day, and we have absolutely zero tolerance for that.
"People are entitled to enjoy the amenities that our wonderful town offers without fear of encountering such distasteful and frankly dangerous behaviour.
"Individuals found to be behaving in such a way will be dealt with swiftly and robustly."