A “CAT fight” erupted between two women after an argument turned violent in a flat.

Samantha Neighbour has been sentenced after attacking a woman in the property in Basildon.

The 48-year-old of Craylands, Basildon, was at the flat in Great Ranton on July 3 last year, which was being rented by a man she was helping through a tough period in his life.

Prosecuting at Basildon Crown Court, Richard Scott said: “Neighbour was almost instantly hostile, tell her [the woman] to leave.

“Neighbour laid hands on her and forced her towards the front door and there was a punch and she grabbed hold of her.

“They stumbled out into the hallway on the steps and Neighbour put her hands around her neck and pushed her down towards the stairs.”

Mr Scott said the shouts were heard by the men inside, and the woman was pulled back towards the flat, but she resisted.

Mr Scott said: “During the assault the woman’s hooded top came off.

“Thereafter the woman ran away from the flat and went to a nearby neighbour’s house and rang the police.

“She left without her top on and only her bra on.”

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Neighbour, alongside another man, Terry Ford, 35, of Great Ranton, were originally charged with robbery.

However, the Crown Prosecution Service chose not to pursue those charges, and offered no evidence, acquitting Mr Ford of all charges.

Neighbour admitted common assault.

Mitigating for Neighbour, Anthony Abell said: “It was a verbal argument between the two of them and it turned into a cat fight.

“She accepts she slapped her and that she did pull her jumper.

“She has no recollection of putting her hands around her neck.”

Mr Abell added Neighbour was “ashamed” of her behaviour.

Judge Andrew Hurst told Neighbour: “It’s disappointing that someone who is 47-years-old was behaving like they are in a playground.”

Neighbour was given a 12 month community order with 180 hours unpaid work.