A GROWLING mother who turned on her in-laws during a violent domestic dispute has avoided jail after a court heard her children would be at risk of going into care without her.

Christina Strickson launched into a fit of rage after her mother-in-law Gail Wickers woke her up after discovering her on the sofa of her Darwen home on July 7 last year.

Preston Crown Court heard how the defendant was at odds with her in-laws, and was not welcome in the home, prompting Mrs Wickers to ask her to leave.

However the 27-year-old defendant, who it appeared had been drinking, did not take kindly to being woken up, punching Mrs Wickers in the head before growling at her and kicking her in the ribs.

Later, when the victim’s daughter Nicola arrived at the address in a bid to stop the dispute, she too was attacked by Strickson, who pulled a clump of her hair out and bit her on her arm.

Prosecuting the case, Paul Cummings said: “The first complainant left her son and grandson in the living room at around 7.30pm, but later that evening she was disturbed by voices and crying.

“She went into the living room and she could then see that the defendant was in the flat and lying on the sofa. She approached her and told her she was not welcome and that she should leave.

“The defendant then jumped up and swore at the complainant and started to assault her. She said the defendant punched her to the left side of her head, punched her again to her nose, causing her to fall to the floor.

“Her son then came across to help her and she said, ‘I was on my hands and knees looking at the floor.’ She went on to say that when she stood up, the defendant kicked her three times to the ribs on the left side of her body. She was then on her hands and knees trying to get up and the defendant was growling.

“This was quite a disturbance by then and the defendant’s daughter, Nicola, had become aware that there was an incident taking place – she lived nearby.”

The court then heard how Strickson turned her attention to Nicola, grabbing her by the hair and biting her arm.

By this stage, the police had been called and Strickson, of Queen Street, Darwen, was arrested.

At interview, the mother-of-two denied any involvement but later pleaded guilty to two charges of common assault.

Defending, Ellen Shaw said: “The defendant was of good character and has of course lost that now.

“She is remorseful for the situation that she has caused.

“She also accepts that had she not taken so much alcohol on that occasion, she would not have behaved in that way and she readily accepts she needs help with that. That is something probation can offer her.

“She does have children and she is the main carer of them. They are nine and four. Effectively, the father of the older child is in the Navy, so would not be able to take up care of him. The younger child would likely go into foster care.”

A 12-month community order was placed upon Strickson, who must also undertake 15 rehabilitation requirements days.

She was also placed under a curfew for 12 weeks.