Kellie Chambers launched the attack on Sonia Porter over an alleged £20 debt, just hours after being fined by magistrates for threatening her, a court yesterday heard.

Ms Porter, 28, told today how she now lives in fear since the assault by Chambers, 28, and has been forced to have her home in Whiteleas, South Shields, fitted with panic buttons.

According to Ms Porter, the pair had been friends for years, and Chambers had even lived with the mum for several months, but moved out.

Then, on July 21, Newcastle Crown Court heard how Ms Porter opened the front door to Chambers, while cradling her daughter Katie in her arms, when the defendant grabbed the mum-of-three around the neck punched her and puled her hair.

Neil Pallister, prosecuting, told the court how Chambers
had been fined by magistrates on the day of the incident for previously threatening Ms Porter over a £20 debt she was said to have owed the defendant's mother.

Just hours after receiving the £50 fine and being ordered to pay £80 costs for a public order offence, Chambers turned up at Ms Porter's door in Galsworthy Road, and demanded Ms Porter pay the money for her – as well as the original £20 debt.

Mr Pallister said: "Sonia Porter answered the door holding her one-year-old in her arms.

"The defendant grabbed her around the neck and pushed her into the house.

"She assaulted her by punching her around the head and neck, and pulled her about the living room by her hair.

"Ms Porter said she was unable to defend herself because she was carrying her child at the time."

Ms Porter told the Gazette: "Even though it's all over, it still haunts the kids.

"Sometimes they have trouble sleeping at night because of it, and every time they hear a knock at the door they get scared.

"When I heard someone at the door on July 21, I thought it was just kids messing around, but when I opened it and Kellie grabbed me by the throat, I just didn't know what was going on.

"I couldn't defend myself. She pushed me into the sitting room with my daughter still in my arms. Katie was crying her eyes out.

"Then Kellie pulled me around the room by my hair. The whole thing must have lasted about 10 minutes.

"My other daughter Charlotte was in the back garden, and she saw what was going on. She was too scared to come in, and ran off to a neighbour's house in tears."

The court heard how Chambers then warned Ms Porter that if she did not pay up, she would return and smash her windows.

She told the terrified mum: "You are going to get it in front of your kids."

Chambers, of Whiteleas Way, South Shields, admitted witness intimidation at the hearing yesterday.

Tim Gittens, defending, said during the weeks spent in prison on remand, Chambers has withdrawn from alcohol and realised she needs to do something about her problems.

He also said Chambers has an offer of work as a cleaner.

Judge David Hodson sentenced Chambers to 26 weeks' imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, with supervision and programme requirements, and told her: "This was a disgraceful performance by you.

"On the very day you were fined and ordered to pay costs, you went to Ms Porter's address and behaved in the way that has been described.

"People must appreciate if they try to take matters into their own hands, they end up in custody.

"You have been in custody and that does seem to have taught you a lesson."

But Ms Porter added: "It's worrying knowing Kellie hasn't been jailed."