The victim, who was with her teenage daughter, had been on her way to vote at the polling station on Salterbeck Drive in Workington on May 5.

She had shouted at a group of youths her daughter was having problems with, Workington Magistrates’ Court heard.

Shortly afterwards, Susan Holliday, 40, the mother of one of the teenagers the victim has shouted at, had pulled up in a White Ford Kuga, outside the polling station, where the victim was stood.

Holliday believed the victim had punched her daughter in the face.

Pamela Fee, prosecuting, said the defendant approached the victim, punched her and the victim fell to the floor.

Holliday had then punched the woman numerous times to the face, the court was told.

Ms Fee said Holliday had then got back into the car and the victim had kicked the licence plate.

She was then struck by the vehicle as Holliday drove away, the court heard.

The victim had then gone back into the polling station and had pain to the right knee, from being struck by the vehicle, and swelling to the right cheek bone.

A statement read out to the court from the victim said her daughter was 'petrified', and it had been 'awful' for the girl, seeing her mum being assaulted.

The victim said she had only spoken to the girls, asking them to leave them alone. She denied assaulting Holliday’s daughter.

Ms Fee said Holliday was interviewed and denied the offence. She stated that the victim had just hit her 13-year-old daughter in the face.

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Holliday stated she didn’t assault the victim. She said she pushed her and shouted at her and asked why she had assaulted her daughter.

The defendant said she started driving away because the woman was hitting her car.

Holliday said she just wanted to leave the area and tried to get past her. She said she was stood at the side, not at the front of the car.

But Ms Fee said CCTV footage, which was played to the court, 'clearly shows' the victim was stood at the front of the car.

'She was upset. She was angry'

Claire Kirkpatrick, defending, said Holliday was 'absolutely devastated' to be before the court.

“It was entirely out of character,” Ms Kirkpatrick told the court. “This is not how she normally behaves.

“She got a phone call from her best friend to say her daughter had been punched in the face by this lady.

“She drove a short distance to where her daughter was. She fully accepts she was the one who got out the vehicle. The lady fell. Ms Holliday accepts there was a scuffle between them. She was upset. She was angry.

“She does accept that the lady was kicking out at her. It’s over in seconds.

“She accepts she has driven but didn’t intent to hurt the lady. She was trying to get away. The most appropriate course of action would be to reverse. She accepts that but wanted to get away.

“Her daughter had to go to hospital. She had been assaulted. That is being dealt with separately by police.

“She knows she has put herself in a difficult position. She is employed by the hospital.”

Ms Kirkpatrick said the defendant had hoped to complete an apprenticeship in nursing but was now going to have a conviction for common assault.

“The consequences are going to be more far-reaching”, her solicitor said. “She is extremely remorseful about her behaviour.”

Holliday, of Roper Terrace, Salterbeck, Workington, pleaded guilty to assault by beating and driving a vehicle on a road or public place without due care and attention.

Holliday was given a one-year community order and must complete 100 hours of unpaid work. Seven penalty points were added to her driving licence.

She must also pay £85 costs and a £95 victim surcharge.

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