Barrister attacked in court

Miss Hedworth's attacker was not a client

A woman barrister has been attacked in court as she prepared to present a case.

Rachel Hedworth, 26, was in a consultation room at Newcastle Crown Court when an assailant barged in and attacked her before being overpowered.

The man is believed to have thrown a chair at her and kicked her repeatedly before being overpowered by a passer-by who held him until security staff arrived.

Miss Hedworth, who is from Newcastle, was said to be "very badly shaken" by the incident.

Her assistant, Margaret Donaghue, a freelance solicitors clerk, was also knocked over in the incident.

'Extraordinary fright'

The assailant - who was thought to be in court facing other charges - was not Miss Hedworth's client.

Miss Hedworth, who regularly appears in the Crown Court, is based at Trinity Chambers just yards away, which are run by her uncle, Toby Hedworth QC.

Simon Stewart, chambers director at Trinity Chambers, said: "She is very badly shaken. She is very rattled. He gave her an extraordinary fright.

"The client was nothing to do with her. He just barged in and thumped her with a chair."

A spokesman for Northumbria Police said: "An incident was reported at about 1100 BST regarding an assault on a barrister at Newcastle Crown Court. A man was detained by Group 4 security guards."