'I'll f*****g kill you': Mum batters rival parent in brutal attack outside school gates

A mum on the school run battered another mum outside the gates after their daughters had a fall-out, a court heard. The woman was was dragged to the ground by her ponytail and kicked in the face by Jessica Kitching, 25, in Lancaster.

Kitching was collecting her daughter from school when she set upon the mother of her daughter's classmate in September, 2023. Preston Crown Court heard the children were friends, but there had been a falling out during the school holidays.

A judge who suspended a prison sentence said she was 'unable to control' her behaviour.

The court heard that on September 21, Kitching followed the woman out of the playground of the school and grabbed her by her hair. She dragged her to the ground and knelt on her chest before kicking her repeatedly in the face.

Her victim begged her to stop as they were outside the school and there were children present. Another friend dragged Kitching off but as she walked away, she shouted: "I know where you live. I'll f***ing kill you."

The victim went to Lancaster Royal Infirmary with grazes and bruises to her face. Doctors said they suspected a hairline fracture to her nose, however the woman did not attend a follow up appointment 10 days later as she said she felt a lot better

In a victim statement, she said she was embarrassed and humiliated to have been attacked on the school run in front of other parents and children. She said she considered changing her daughter's school but did not think it was appropriate. She was also worried Kitching would turn up at her house, she said.

Since the attack the children have played out together and there have been no further incidents, a judge was told.

The court heard the attack was out of character for Kitching, who has no