A heavily pregnant bride-to-be left a court in tears as her fiancee was jailed for five years for repeatedly stabbing a ‘homophobic’ woman with a pen knife after she allegedly yelled ‘ugly dyke’.
Jade Madden, 21, who had only just come out as gay, was with 22-year old partner Megan Madden when they got caught up in a fight with two other women over comments made towards them near Manchester’s gay village.
During the assault, Jade, who claimed she had been targeted with the homophobic slur, grabbed Adele Riley by the hair before teetotal Megan, who works a bouncer, delivered repeated strikes to the victim’s face and neck with a pen knife.
Jade Madden, 21, (left, outside court yesterday) was with 22-year old partner Megan Madden (who she is with on the right – Jade is on the left of that photo) when they got caught up in a fight
Mother-of-two Ms Riley, 30, who had earlier been ejected from a bar, suffered two superficial injuries and three wounds to her head which are feared to have left her scarred for life.
In a statement, the victim said the trauma of the attack on January 1 last year had left her unable to walk home from work on her own or go into Manchester city centre.
At Manchester Crown Court Megan, of Old Trafford, was jailed for five years and ten months after she admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and having a bladed article.
Jade, from Fallowfield, sobbed as she walked free with six weeks jail suspended for a year after admitting using threatening behaviour. She is due to give birth in two months.
The incident occurred after the couple encountered Miss Riley on Portland Street in the city centre during New Year celebrations. The victim had been in Bar Rogue but was thrown out after a confrontation with Shannon Smith, a friend of the Maddens.
Alexandra Sutton prosecuting said: ‘The confrontation on the street continued with Smith arguing with Miss Riley’s cousin who then punched Miss Smith.
‘Miss Riley intervened but she was clearly agitated and was shouting and gesticulating.
‘Whatever was said clearly angered the Maddens and they were immediately involved in a scuffle grappling with one another.’
Jade, (pic) who claimed she had been targeted with the homophobic slur, grabbed Adele Riley by the hair before Megan, who works a bouncer, delivered repeated strikes to the victim’s face and neck with a pen knife
Jade then went over to Ms Riley and pulled her hair before holding her as Megan hit her, the prosecutor said.
She continued: ‘The evidence is Megan pulled out a knife, possibly a pen knife and there were two bursts of stabbing.
‘Shannon Smith was also seen delivering two blows to Miss Riley. Megan then strikes a further blow to Miss Madden and then puts an implement into her pocket.
‘The three then got into a taxi to flee the scene.’
The court heard the couple were traced via Facebook.
In mitigation for Megan, defence lawyer Dan Gaskell said: ‘She is clearly an intelligent young woman who has acted entirely out of character this particular night – a serious one off that is going to have significant consequences for her and her partner and their child.
‘She became involved because her partner was involved in a fight with another woman.
‘Her subsequent actions were entirely despicable and she has had many months to reflect upon that.’
For Jade, defence lawyer Philip Mahoney said: ‘The victim can be seen shouting and gesticulating towards Jade Madden calling her an ugly dyke.
‘This is a young lady that has never been in trouble before and she is pregnant due to give birth in a month or so.
‘Prior to the commencement of her relationship with Megan Madden she was in an abusive relationship with a male.
‘That relationship left marks on her in terms of her psychological wellbeing, she would flinch at sudden noises and excessively apologise to Megan.’
Mr Mahoney said Jade only came out a couple of months before the fight and was worried about how people would react.
‘She was the one who went over to the victim at that stage, she holds herself responsible for what occurred thereafter,’ he said.
‘The person who has been the most constant support for her has been Megan, and now her principle source of support is now going to be gone and Jade holds herself responsible for that.’
The judge said it was disturbing that Megan (seen on the left with Jade – but in the right of that photo – and on the right in a police mug shot) was carrying a knife and was prepared to use it
Sentencing Judge Alan Conrad QC said: ‘This was serious group violence at night, in public, on a crowded street.
‘The incident was taken to an altogether and more serious level by Megan Madden using that knife to stab the victim repeatedly to the head, face and neck causing wounds of which she is actively conscious of and causing her to be fearful of going out in public.
‘I accept that there was some provocation but you all continued to be involved none the less.’
Turning to Megan, the judge said it was disturbing she was carrying a blade and that she drew that in a violent situation.
‘The carrying of a knives are matters of great concern,’ he said. ‘You face for this a significant custodial sentence.
‘A stab wound to the neck can quite easily result in a fatal injury and you could have been spending at least 25 years in prison.’
Former trainee nursery nurse Shannon Smith, 24, of Moss Side, Manchester admitted a public order offence and was ordered to complete 100 hours unpaid work as part of a two year community order.