Sign up for our Crime and Punishment Newsletter The inside stories on the latest court stories from Wales Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A mother on a “drug-fuelled rampage” broke into a pensioner’s home and threatened to “suck the fat off” her using a vacuum cleaner.

Mother-of-one Cara Thorne also spat at a police officer when arrested and told him that she had Hepatitis C.

The 28-year-old was jailed at Cardiff Crown Court on Monday after pleading guilty to a catalogue of offences including assault occasioning ABH and common assault.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

The court heard that in the early hours of September 22 Jennifer Keogh, 67, was at her home in Llys Tylcha Fawr, in Tonyrefail , when she was woken by a noise in the upstairs flat and then a bang on her front door.

She was confronted by the defendant who had her face up against the door and was able to push herself inside the flat.

She grabbed hold of Ms Keogh’s dressing gown and pulled her from side to side while hitting her head against the wall.

Thorne then pushed Ms Keogh into the kitchen and began shouting aggressively, rambling but not making any sense.

The defendant was moving back and forth and was coming close to Ms Keogh’s face. The homeowner tried to calm Thorne down but she continued rambling and screaming.

Prosecutor Emma Harris said: “[Thorne] grabbed and clawed at Ms Keogh’s face and put her fingers into her mouth.

“She has the closed the door and grabbed the hoover, holding it at Ms Keogh’s head.

“She rambled at her and began to hit her with the hoover. Ms Keogh realised she was in danger.

“As Ms Keogh managed to open the kitchen door the defendant ran the hoover up her arms and back saying ‘I will suck the fat out of you’.

“A struggle ensued and Ms Keogh moved to the front door and opened it while still holding back the defendant and they tumbled into the communal gardens and she shouted for help.”

Ms Keogh was able to escape and ran to a neighbour’s house until the police arrived.

She had blood all over her face from numerous scratches, a cut to her right eye, and a large bruise to her right arm.

In a victim impact statement Ms Keogh said she could no longer face going out and cannot sleep because of the attack, which has destroyed her independence and trust in people.

She added it had depressed her to realise she was “helpless against the madness that came from nowhere”.

Thorne carried out a second attack on that night when she broke into the home of Christopher Chenery who also lives in Llys Tylcha Fawr.

He said she barged past him into her home and screamed at him while throwing his belongings around and snapping CDs.

The defendant ran to the kitchen and picked up a yellow-handled kitchen knife which she began waving around.

Mr Chenery managed to get out of the flat and closed the door behind him and called the police.

He tried to entice Thorne out with a cigarette and threw it in the undergrowth and she ran after it.

At that point Mr Chenery ran into the flat and locked the door. Thorne picked up a clothesline and hit it on the floor before using it to the hit the windows of Mr Cheney’s home, which caused him injury.

In a victim impact statement, Mr Chenery said the attack left him feeling distressed and at one point he thought he was going to die. It had also brought back his PTSD from his Army days.

The police arrived at the scene and arrested Thorne who was taken into police custody but outside her cell she spat at an officer and told him she had Hepatitis C.

When interviewed she said she had been at a friend’s house and had asked them not to let her fall asleep but having fallen asleep and woken up she had become upset.

She said she had “gone nuts” and had little recollection of what happened. She claimed to have only had a sniff of poppers but later admitted to being under the influence of cannabis and amphetamines.

Defending, Stephen Thomas said his client had long-term issues regarding her mental health and drug misuse.

He said Thorne was seeking help prior to the incident due to her fragile mental state but was not coping well. He added that she was genuinely ashamed and remorseful.

Sentencing, Judge Jeremy Jenkins said: “You consumed a number of illegal drugs and went on an uncontrolled rampage causing two people, unknown to you and had no particular dispute with, great concern and harm.

“Your violence continued and you were aggressive towards officers. You spat at him and indicated to him that you had Hepatitis C. It’s not right police officers acting as they do should be subjected to such abuse and behaviour as that.”

Thorne, of High Street, Porth , was sentenced to a total of 14 months imprisonment and made subject to a restraining order preventing her from entering Llys Tylcha Fawr.