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A MUM who was battered at a school gates by a rival parent has broken her silence on the ordeal.

Jessica Kitching, 25, was collecting her daughter from school when she launched the savage attack on Charlene Harkin - known as Charlie.

Close-up portrait of Charlene Harkin.
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Charlene Harkin, 37, was battered at a school gates by a rival parentCredit: Facebook
Woman in leopard print dress holding a red clutch.
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Jessica Kitching, 25, dragged rival mum Charlie to the groundCredit: Facebook
Charlene Harkin in a pink and orange sheer top.
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Charlie described how traumatic the vicious attack had beenCredit: Facebook

Kitching pulled the 37-year-old to the ground by her ponytail and knelt on her chest in front of horrified school kids.

The thug then repeatedly kicked the mother-of-three in the face as she begged her to stop,  reports.

As Kitching was dragged away by a pal, she yelled out: "I know where you live. I'll f***ing kill you."

Charlie described how traumatic the vicious attack had been for her family.

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She told : "This has been a complete trauma for all of us.

"I have had to pull my three kids out of that school because I never felt we were safe.

"I have had to take six months off work."

The pair's two children were friends but had fallen out during the holidays.

Kitching pleaded guilty to assault occasioning ABH but was spared jail as her daughter would suffer.

She was instead handed a 30 week sentence, suspended for 12 months.

Preston Crown Court was told the horror attack unfolded in Lancaster in September 2023.

Charlie was taken to hospital with grazes and bruises to her face and a suspected hairline fracture on her nose.

In a statement, she said she was embarrassed and humiliated to have been attacked on the school run in front of other parents and children.

The mum told the court she considered changing her child's school as a result and was also left terrified that Kitching would come to her home.

Since the attack the children have played out together and there have been no further incidents, she added.

The court heard Kitching, who has no previous convictions, was ashamed of her vile actions.

As well as a suspended sentence, she was ordered to complete 15 days of rehabilitation activities and complete 60 hours of unpaid work.

Sentencing, Recorder Ayesha Siddiqi said: "This happened near a school and in the presence of children.

"You were unable to control your behaviour in front of the children.

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"She must have been terrified by being pulled to the floor and kicked by you. There was the use of a shod foot as a weapon.

"Your behaviour that day was appalling.";

Woman with long blonde hair wearing a black tank top.
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Kitching pulled the 37-year-old to the ground by her ponytailCredit: Facebook
Close-up selfie of a woman wearing a Manchester United baseball cap.
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She knelt on Charlie's chest in front of horrified school kidsCredit: Facebook
Portrait of a young woman with long blonde hair.
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The thug then repeatedly kicked the mother-of-three in the faceCredit: Facebook
Woman in green dress holding a drink.
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Kitching was handed a suspended sentenceCredit: Facebook
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