A REPEAT offender stole a phone after attacking an acquaintance and has since assaulted prison staff on 15 occasions since her arrest.

Molly Ward, 22, appeared in Liverpool Crown Court on Friday, November 17 accused of theft and common assault.

Ward, who has numerous previous offences for drinking-related assaults, predominantly on emergency workers, carried out the assault and theft on August 15, 2022.

Prosecuting, Ms Walsh told the court how the 22-year-old had walked up to someone she knew and after greeting them, asked to borrow some money.

When the victim said no, Ward, of HMP Styal but previously from Warrington, let her walk away and then jumped her – grabbing her by the throat and then pushing her to the floor.

In this assault, the victim’s phone fell out of her pocket. The 22-year-old spotted this, picked it up, and ran off. The phone’s case was later recovered at her property by police.

In a victim personal statement read to the court, the person whose phone was stolen described ‘anxiety and depression’ as a result of the incident.

She also claimed she was unable to leave the house without a care worker due to anxiety following the assault.

Ward has numerous previous offences, ranging from criminal damages to battery and assaulting emergency workers, including an incident where she assaulted five emergency workers in one night, and committed battery. She has also been banned from Warrington town centre.

Defending Ward, who appeared via video link in a green jumper, Mr O’Donohoe told the court that she had ‘severe psychological problems’.

Both Judge Aubrey and Mr O’Donohoe agreed that the psychological report was ‘a difficult read’ and Judge Aubrey said: “She’s a very troubled soul.”

Detailed in the report was the fact that, since being placed in custody after she was called back on licence, Ward had assaulted prison staff on 15 occasions.

Judge Aubrey summarised the case, saying he had no choice but to give her an immediate custodial sentence.

He said: “At this point in your life, there is no prospect of rehabilitation.”

Ward was sentenced to a 16-month prison sentence, reduced from 20 months due to her early guilty plea.