Rhubarb attack in family feuding

The court heard villagers felt unsafe when Miss Porter was around

A woman attacked her elderly brother with rhubarb over a family feud, a North Yorkshire court has heard.

William Porter, 72, suffered double vision and needed painkillers after Margaret Porter threw three sticks of rhubarb at him, hitting him in the eye.

Miss Porter, 50, of Newbiggin near Northallerton, admitted one count of common assault.

The court heard she had a history of family disputes and also had "issues" with many of the local community.

Father's will

At Northallerton Magistrates Court, Nicola Lynskey, prosecuting, said: "According to her brother's statement many of the villagers felt unsafe when she was around."

In mitigation, Miss Porter's solicitor David Scourfield said the family disputes dated back to her father's will, which Miss Porter felt was distributed unfairly.

The court heard she suffered from a paranoid personality disorder and had once smashed windows on her brother's farm, causing hundreds of pounds of damage.

She also had issues with her sons' families and admitted in court to assaulting a woman.

The police have requested an anti-social behaviour order should be served to protect her family.

Sentencing has been adjourned until 8 December.