After she claimed she couldn’t do her job properly and was a joke, a riding school receptionist punched an instructor in front of the stable block.
Hayley Dickens claimed that six months ago, her sister-in law Kirstie, 39, hit her in the ears and eye with a baton during a bust up.
Whittington, mother-of-two claimed that she was acting in self-defense after Dickens assaulted her.
She claimed Ms Dickens had ‘gone off on a tirade’ saying she needed to ‘get off my a*** and do my job properly’.
However, Julia Newton, District judge of Highbury Corner Magistrates Court convicted Julia Newton after listening to the evidence.
Ms Dickens, whose mother owns Gillian’s Riding School in Enfield, north London, said there was confusion that day over what horses were allocated for her clients, causing disruption to her lessons.
She felt it was ‘unprofessional’ and made a complaint in which she mentioned Whittington, sparking the row.
Riding instructor Mrs Dickens said: ‘I came out of the horses’ stables and was confronted with her and she was quite clearly very upset about something.
Hayley Dickens stated that she has still hearing issues six months after her stable side fight
Kirstie Whittington, mother-of-two claimed that she was acting in self-defence. However, she was found guilty
‘She then said to me if I ever have anything that I want to say to her I need to say it to her face. This was when she began gesturing aggressively and abruptly with her hands toward me.
‘She then continued with, “Don’t ever do anything like this again”. I then returned and said, “Well if I’m not happy about something in the work place I’m going to report it, you can’t say that to me”.
‘She then said somethings I think to insult me – “you’re embarrassing”, “you’re a joke” – she was quite nasty. After grabbing my head, she began hitting me with her two fists repeatedly.
‘I had my hands up and was pushing her back. Three times she hit me by the right eye. Then she hit me directly over my right ear. Finally, she hit my left side and jaw.
‘There was probably five or six blows that made contact with my head.’
JPs learned that Ms. Dickens had been to two hospitals and was diagnosed with concussion. She still experiences hearing problems in her left ear.
Whittington had tried to persuade the court by his defense attorney that the victim was the one who started the fight.
Ms Dickens’ mother owns Gillian’s Riding School in Enfield, north London, where it happened
Solicitor Lily Roberts-Phelps said: ‘You really don’t like Kirstie do you?’
Ms Dickens replied: ‘I’m not her biggest fan. I’m not her best friend.’
Whittington initially denied punching Ms Dickens. However, Whittington claimed that the other woman had attacked her and hurt her.
She told the court: ‘Hayley had gone off on a tirade about myself and then stated…if I get off my a*** and do my job properly then we wouldn’t have these problems with people.
‘I said to her calmly please don’t speak about me like that to other people, don’t slag me off to other members of staff, if you’ve got issues people come and speak to me.
‘She turned around and said to me, “My mum doesn’t even think you can do your job”.
‘All she kept saying to me was, “It’s all you, it’s all your fault, it’s always you”.
‘I went to walk away…because I had said what I needed to say and she didn’t even give me an answer that warranted anything I could understand.
‘Hayley turned around and said to me, “Don’t walk away from me”. Then she turned and walked toward me. Her nose touched mine, and she spoke through her gritted teeth. When she reached for my hair and pulled at my jacket collar, I attempted to move away. To get her to let go, I was able to grab her arm with my other hand.
Whittington agreed she and Ms Dickens had ‘never had a close relationship as some sisters in law do’.
Whittington of Theobalds Park Road in Enfield, north London was denied, but he was convicted for assault occasioning actual bodily injury.
On December 21, she was released from jail before her sentence.