Woman hits Conservative councillor with whip

A woman who bit a Conservative councillor and hit him with a whip, in a row over the ownership of a horse, has been given a suspended sentence.

Shouting abuse

The dispute started when Tamara Miller, from Atherton in Greater Manchester, attempted to take a horse from a field in Lowton. The livery yard owner Susan Grundy tried to intervene with the help of Lisa Webb, however, Miller began shouting abuse.

When Webb tried to walk away, Miller dragged her to the ground by her hair and then punched her several times.

Conservative councillor James Grundythen got involved to protect his mother, using a whip in an attempt to get Miller to back off.

However, the 41-year-old grabbed the whip and bit him, before repeatedly hitting him on the back.

Pinned to the ground

Councillor Grundy was eventually able to pin Miller on the ground, until the police arrived.

While Miller was found guilty her lawyer Bob Toppin said “nothing is ever 100 percent cut and dry”.

“The police officer carried out a physical examination and there were injuries on my client consistent with being hit with a horse whip, and she would also dispute the history behind this,” he said.

Mental health problems

Miller apologised to the victims at Wigan and Leigh Magistrates’ Court and Toppin said she “shows remorse in bucketfuls”.

“She does have some mental health problems and was in a transition situation with her medication,” the lawyer said. “With hindsight she wishes she had just walked away.”

The magistrates gave Miller a 26-week prison sentence suspended for 18 months. She was also ordered to complete 60 hours of unpaid work and pay £400 in compensation to each victim as well as £200 in costs and an £80 victims’ surcharge.

‘Justice has been done’

In addition, Miller was given a restraining order for 18 months preventing her from contacting the people who were involved in the incident and banning her from the livery yard.

Coun Grundy said he believed “justice had been done”.