The video will start in 8 Cancel

Get the inside track on the big stories from Liverpool Crown Court with our weekly newsletter Subscribe now Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Three sisters hurled homophobic insults at a man who had a hammer swung at him during a bitter family feud.

Leanne, Louise and Samantha Whelan yelled vile abuse at Peter Taylor when he tried to stop them confronting two women.

Children playing in a Birkenhead street witnessed Leanne, 32, Louise, 29, and Samantha, 33, shouting and screaming.

Pregnant Leanne swung the weapon at the victim, which missed his upper body, before they called him a "queer" and a "f****t".

But the three single mums all walked free from Liverpool Crown Court - because of the impact jail would have on their children.

(Image: Liverpool Echo)

Prosecutors said there was a dispute between the Wirral sisters and the paternal gran of Samantha's children, Deborah McKenna, over a dog.

They said Ms McKenna and her son Thomas Carson had made reports to social services about the welfare of children, but no action was taken.

Paul Becker, prosecuting, said it later involved Katie Cunningham, the girlfriend of Mr Carson, and Mr Taylor, a friend of the McKenna family.

He said all parties on both sides of the dispute were warned by a housing association about their behaviour before the incident, on August 11 last year.

The Whelan sisters said they were driving to their mum's when they saw Ms Cunningham outside Mr Carson's house in Alwen Street, Birkenhead.

Prosecutors accepted it was a "chance encounter" but they got out of a silver Mercedes and shouted "come on let's go" before Leanne got a hammer.

Ms Cunningham fled into the house but Mr Taylor, who was in the back garden and heard shouting, came out to investigate.

Mr Becker said the sisters shouted to Ms Cunningham and Ms McKenna to come out, but Mr Taylor told them to calm down.

He said: "Samantha Whelan was abusive and said 'f*** off, we don't want you."

Mr Becker said Mr Taylor stood his ground and Leanne swung the hammer, missing his upper body, during "chaotic scenes".

He said: "Leanne Whelan was seen to be bouncing towards Mr Taylor, threatening and generally acting aggressively. Mr Taylor was shocked and scared."

Mr Becker said the victim backed off and the sisters walked away but "were all shouting homophobic comments about Mr Taylor".

(Image: Liverpool Echo)

He said they also made threats to Ms Cunningham, screaming "you're getting this over your head".

Mr Taylor said he was left feeling depressed and anxious, "looking over his shoulder all the time" and struggling to sleep at night.

The Whelan sisters said the victims were lying and claimed to have alibis, before admitting threatening behaviour ahead of a trial.

Leanne, of Treetops Drive, Bidston, who has five previous convictions for 10 offences, also admitted possessing an offensive weapon.

Her criminal record includes assaulting a police officer, common assault and assault causing actual bodily harm.

Andrew McInnes, defending Leanne, said an allegation was made that Ms Cunningham assaulted one of the sisters the previous day.

He said remorseful and embarrassed Leanne was a "good mother" to her children, aged seven months, three and 13.

Mr McInnes said both Leanne and her two eldest children had difficulties, but she had since avoided the victims and planned to leave Birkenhead.

Louise, of Wakefield Drive, Leasowe, has 12 previous convictions for 19 offences, including racially aggravated harassment against a supermarket security guard.

Anna Duke, defending Louise, said her client had two daughters, aged seven and nine, who suffered from ADHD and dyspraxia.

(Image: Liverpool Echo)

She said a medical report found Louise could be "very impulsive" and lacked thinking skills, but she had signed up for counselling.

Samantha, of Tollemache Road, Oxton, has three previous convictions for assaulting a police officer, battery and shoplifting.

Bernice Campbell, defending Samantha, said she had a daughter, 14, and son, aged four, who was awaiting an assessment for autism.

She said: "Samantha Whelan has been a victim herself, calling the police after she got beat up in front of her four-year-old child."

Judge Gary Woodhall said Mr Taylor was subjected to "homophobic abuse" and the sisters' emotions "got out of control".

He said: "It appears the background to this offence was either a falling out over a dog or allegations of sexual impropriety and the like.

"Whatever it was, it led to a dispute between extended family members and tensions increasing up to the day of this offence.

"Clearly issues were ongoing for some time. Various complaints were made to social services including about the welfare of children.

"All parties involved - both sides - were warned about their behaviour by a housing association. Various allegations made to police were not prosecuted.

"Whatever the rights and wrongs of this dispute, it's clear to me by August 11 last year, you three resented the way things had not been investigated or not prosecuted, you three resented the way the witnesses in this case behaved, and you were angry and upset."

(Image: Liverpool Echo)

Judge Woodhall said there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation and jail would cause "significant harm" to their children.

He handed Leanne nine months in jail, and Louise and Samantha nine weeks in jail, all suspended for 15 months.

The judge gave them each three-month home curfews, from 8pm to 6am daily, plus 20-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirements.

He also imposed five-year restraining orders to protect Mr Taylor and Ms McKenna.

Judge Woodhall added: "It's hanging over you now - this dispute has got to come to an end."