Northampton woman assaults neighbour with baseball bat in racist attack

A Northampton woman has been given a suspended prison sentence after assaulting a neighbour with a baseball bat in a racist attack.

Tracey Cox, aged 50, of Quaker Way in Moulton, appeared at Northampton Crown Court on Tuesday, November 1 after pleading guilty to possessing an offensive weapon in a public place, racially aggravated common assault and five counts of assaulting emergency workers. The court heard that the victim had lived in the same neighbourhood as Cox in Abington for around a year and there had been verbal altercations between them before the assault took place.

Graham Russell, prosecuting, said that the victim and her young son were taking a stroll on March 8, 2021 at around 5.50pm and, when they passed Cox’s property, the defendant shouted a racist comment and said: “Go back to where you came from.” Mr Russell said the victim then took out her phone to record the altercation, which “enraged” Cox.

The court heard that she ran out of the property with a baseball bat, chased the victim to her property, struck her with the bat and pulled out a clump of her hair. Mr Russell said the victim’s “terrified” son went to get his father, who then struggled to relinquish Cox’s grip on the victim. He claimed that Cox smelled of alcohol.

The court heard that Cox was arrested and interviewed and she falsely alleged that the victim attacked her first.

Mr Russell said that, whilst Cox was on bail, she visited her son in hospital on August 12 this year after receiving news that he had been involved in a motorcycle accident and he was in a coma. The court heard that Cox attended Northampton General Hospital under the influence of alcohol and made a commotion at her son’s bedside. The court heard that, when three security guards tried to lead her away, she spat and kicked them. When police arrived, she spat at a police officer and, when taken into custody, threw a cup of water over a prison officer.

Dan Green, in mitigation, said Cox pleaded guilty to all offences and she has since moved to a new area so there is no reason she would try to contact her former neighbour. The court heard that Cox, who tended to drink when stressed, is currently sober.

Referring to the assaults on the emergency workers, Mr Green said: “She was obviously under a lot of stress at this point, having heard this news. She understands this is not the way to proceed but, from her perspective, she was very emotional.”

His Honour Judge David Herbert KC, told Cox that she is “on a knife’s edge.” Judge Herbert added: “You do have a drink problem and you have for some time and it seems to me there is significant rehabilitative work to assist you not to behave like this and commit offences like this in the future.”

Cox was handed a prison sentence of 12 months, suspended for 21 months. She was ordered to undertake 30 rehabilitation requirement days and a six month alcohol treatment programme. A five year restraining order was imposed between Cox and her former neighbours.