Hammer attack woman detained in hospital

Ellen Margaret Louise Pounder, 47, was sentenced yesterday at Teesside Crown Court for what was branded by the Recorder of Middlesbrough, Judge Peter Fox, as an “outrageous and vicious” unprovoked attack on 84-year-old Selina Fawcett in Leyburn last year.

The court heard Pounder, of nearby Carperby, lay in wait for her victim in a public toilets next to a tea shop, before pouncing on her and savagely beating her up to six times with a claw hammer on the head.

Pounder then picked up the victim’s walking stick and also attacked her with that.

Shaun Dodd, prosecuting, said Pounder, who had previously never been in trouble with the police, stole the victim’s bag before going to the supermarket to do her weekly shop and then taking a bus back home.

She was arrested by police at about 11pm that same night, and still had traces of the victim’s blood on her left wrist and forearm.

“She said in an interview she had chosen the toilets because it was quiet and nobody would see,” he said.

“She said her intention was to hurt her badly.

“She said she thought she was dead.”

Speaking after yesterday’s sentencing, Detective Inspector Andrea Kell, who led the investigation for North Yorkshire Police, said: “I am satisfied that justice has now been done for the victim of this distressing and shocking attack.

“The incident has left the victim with nightmares and sleepless nights.

“She was previously an active and independent lady, but she is now unable to leave her home by herself.

“She is in physical pain from the scars left by the assault and cannot perform the simple of task of combing her hair without suffering severe pain.

“Despite Leyburn being the nearest town to the victim’s home and containing her favourite shops, she has been unable to visit the town since the attack.

“We hope that today’s outcome gives the victim some confidence to rebuild her life in the knowledge that Pounder is now facing up to the consequences of her actions.”

Mr Dodd said the victim had travelled into Leyburn with her nephew’s wife on the day of attack, on November 28, in order to get some passport photos to renew her driving licence.

Andrew Robertson, for Pounder, said she had suffered from depression for several years and had recently started to suffer hallucinations including seeing flowers on walls and men in white coats.

“It was absolutely bizarre behaviour on her part,” he said.

“She was desperately unhappy because of her home circumstances.

“It is apparent from all the reports that now she has had time to reflect, she has remorse for what she did. She is tearful when considering what she did.”

Pounder pleaded guilty to charges of robbery and assault in February and was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order granted under Section 37 of the Mental Health Act 1983.

“What you did to that elderly lady was outrageous and vicious,” Judge Fox said.

“You caused her a terrible shock, physically not lasting – and that is no thanks to you – but the emotional and psychological scars to her are enormous.

“She doesn’t go out now on her own.

“She was an 84-year-old lady who was enjoying life and you have removed that from her.

“However you are suffering at the moment and you continue to suffer from a mental illness.

“You were very unhappy at home and had been unhappy for a very long time.

“Lots of people are unhappy and a lot for good reasons, but they are not entitled to do what you did and you must never do this again,” he added.