Levi Cracknell, 24, is accused of attacking her friend Emma Bent in a night club after having a one-night stand with Ms Bent’s boyfriend
A single mother who had a one-night stand with a soldier later launched an attack on his nursery nurse girlfriend, a friend of hers, in a 2am catfight, a court heard today.
Levi Cracknell, 24, went behind friend Emma Bent’s back to sleep with Ms Bent’s soldier boyfriend Scott Clayton, also 24.
But when she was later shunned by 20-year-old Ms Bent on a night out, Ms Cracknell confronted her violently in a 2am alcohol-fuelled showdown, Bolton Crown Court heard.
The court was told the incident took place in Shots Bar in Bolton, Greater Manchester, on July 30 last year when Ms Cracknell approached a seated Ms Bent, asking: ‘Who are you kicking off with?’
Ms Cracknell is then accused of grabbing Ms Bent by the hair and pulling her over a table, sending glasses and bottles crashing onto the floor.
Ms Bent, 20, pictured with long-term soldier boyfriend Scott Clayton, 24. Mr Clayton had a one-night stand with Ms Cracknell prior to the attack
Ms Bent is said to have required hospital attention and stitches after landing on the broken glass and sustaining cuts to the palm of her hand, knees and feet.
Ms Bent had been in a relationship with Mr Clayton for three years prior to the affair.
Ms Cracknell pictured leaving Bolton Crown Court after hearing evidence against her regarding the alleged attack at Shots Bar in Bolton
Giving evidence behind a screen, she told the court that she was aware that her boyfriend had been unfaithful at the time of the attack, but had decided to forgive him. She added that she was angry with Ms Cracknell but did not hate her and had no plans to fight her.
‘Me and Scott had been in a relationship for about three years and on the night I was still in a relationship with him. I had previously discovered he had been unfaithful to me and I was aware of a one night stand,’ Ms Bent said.
‘When I found out I was furious with both of them but I eventually forgave Scott and took him back. I don’t hate Levi but we are not friends, I’m angry at her. In fact me and Levi had been quite good friends until the discovery of what had taken place with Scott. Levi had no reason to come over and attack me. I didn’t attack Levi and I don’t hate her.’
Prosecutor Brian McKenna said the attack was initiated when a mutual friend, Alana Barlow, accused Ms Bent of ignoring her because of Ms Cracknell’s actions.
‘Emma was not very pleased so decided not to have anything to do with Levi Cracknell. At 2am both of them were in the Shots Bar and Emma Bent was sat at a table where there were glasses and bottles.
‘One of Levi’s friends Alana Barlow came up to her and asked “why are you not speaking to me anymore?” Emma Bent then said she didn’t want to speak to her because she was a friend of Levi’s but Levi then arrived and said “who are you kicking off with?”’
Ms Cracknell heard evidence from prosecutor Brian McKenna, Ms Bent and witness Tamara Brocklehurst on Thursday
‘Emma at that point stood up and told Levi it was nothing to do with her but Levi grabbed Emma by the hair and pulled her forward. She then pulled her over the table where all of the glasses and bottles fell and smashed.
‘She continued to pull Emma Bent by the hair until she fell on to the glasses, and when on the ground continued to pull her. Miss Bent received cuts to her left hand, both knees and both feet.’
Ms Bent has said that she was angry at Ms Cracknell but had no plans to fight her when they met on a night out in July 2016
Witness Tamara Brocklehurst, a friend of Ms Bent, said: ‘Emma was approached by someone called Alana Barlow when I was stood at the bar and they were having a bit of an argument. That’s when I walked over, I went to see what was going on. As I walked over Levi walked over and shouted at Emma.
‘I didn’t know who Levi was at the time. The first time I saw her was when she approached. She said “don’t shout at her” or “what are you shouting at her for?” I responded and said “don’t start with her we’re having a good night” then I told Emma we were going to leave.
‘The next thing that happened I saw Levi cross the table and grab Emma’s hair as she did that she brought her forward towards herself. There was a table in between. As Levi pulled her the table knocked over which caused Emma to fall on all the glass.
Mr Clayton and Ms Bent pictured together. Ms Bent has said she knew about her boyfriend’s one-night stand with Ms Cracknell but has since forgiven him
‘Emma went on to the floor because Levi pulled her. Levi kept dragging her towards her and pulling her to the floor by her hair. Emma was on her hands and knees with her head down. If just looked like she was trying to get up and Levi had hold of her hair. It lasted between three and five minutes. It all happened very quickly until the bouncers came in.
Ms Bent told the court she was not drunk at the time of the incident, describing herself not as a ‘big drinker’ but ‘an experienced drinker.’
Ms Brocklehurst vouched for Ms Bent, saying she’d only seen Emma drunk ‘once’, and added that she was not drunk at the time of the attack.
‘The alcohol we had had no effect on me. I don’t get drunk. Emma was fine as well,’ Ms Brocklehurst said.
Cracknell denies assault occasioning actual bodily harm claiming she acted in self-defence. The hearing continues.