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Mother who dubbed herself 'the crazy dog lady' who battered her sister with a chair then attacked her niece drunk after a break-up gets 12 month community order By EMILY JANE DAVIES Published: 03:00 EST, 11 November 2024 | Updated: 03:00 EST, 11 November 2024 e-mail View comments A mother who dubbed herself 'the crazy dog lady' battered her sister with a chair then dug her fingernails into her niece's face while drunk after a break-up. Deborah Jeffs got drunk to deal with a bitter relationship split but, while she was intoxicated, grabbed her sister Donna Rumsey's hair and accused her of stealing her phone because she couldn't find it. The 52-year-old scratched her sister's face, then took the kitchen chair to hit her around the stomach and back.
When Miss Rumsey's daughter Faye intervened, she punched her in the mouth, splitting her lip and then dug her nails in her face in Neston, Cheshire. She then told Faye her whole family 'hated her' and that her own boyfriend 'didn't love her.' Jeffs was handed a 12 month community order and was banned from contacting Miss Rumsey and her daughter for 12 months under the terms of a restraining order.
Deborah Jeffs, 52, dubbed herself 'the crazy dog lady'. She battered her sister with a chair then dug her fingernails into her niece's face drunk after a break-up Mother-of-two Jeffs - who runs a dog sitting business - is pictured right outside court At Warrington magistrates' court Jeffs, of Little Neston, Cheshire pleaded guilty to two assaults and criminal damage. She was also sentenced to a community order with a requirement that she wears an alcohol abstinence tag for 80 days.
She was made to pay £199 in costs and victim surcharge and £250 in compensation to Miss Rumsey. Mother-of-two Jeffs - who runs a dog sitting business - had been drinking heavily at Miss Rumsey's home after breaking up with her partner amid allegations of domestic abuse in May. In a statement, Miss Rumsey said: 'Due to the physical abuse I received from Debbie my mobility has been affected as my back hurts most of the time and I have been caused psychological distress.
I feel intimidated by Debbie and fear being in a public place with her. 'She was someone the family trusted and we never expected this from a family member, someone we all loved. This has impacted everyone in the family not just the people involved.
My daughter feels she cannot speak to her cousins because of this. I feel like I cannot neither. 'This is something we have to live with.
We loved her so deeply, but now we worry about leaving our house. This is deeply sad for all involved.' Faye said: 'She dug her nails into my face and popped my lip in two separate place.
I feel vulnerable because I already suffer from mental health difficulties. 'She said the whole family hates me and that even my boyfriend doesn't love me. 'That left me extremely emotionally distressed.
'I had to take a few days of work due to cuts and bruises. Debbie was someone I looked up to. Someone I cared about, someone I trusted.
' The incident occurred after Jeffs had turned up at Donna's home in Neston on May 6 this year. Jeffs, of Little Neston, Cheshire pleaded guilty to two assaults and criminal damage Miss Nicola Parr, prosecuting, said: 'The defendant in this matter was intoxicated after splitting with her partner, goes around to her sister's address and had a few drinks around there. 'At one point she was unable to find her mobile phone and accused Donna of taking it.
That caused an argument between the parties and she was asked to leave. That caused a physical altercation between the parties and the defendant grabbed Donna by her hair and scratched her face. 'She then hit with a kitchen chair causing bruising to her stomach and back.
Faye intervened and has gone to stop the defendant from hitting her sister. 'But the defendant punched her in the face causing her lip to bleed, scratched her face with her nails and grabbed at her necklace and pulled it off causing it to break.' The fight was eventually broken up by warring siblings' brother who was also at the house.
Jeffs' solicitor Mark Evans said: 'This is an exceptionally sad situation all around as it is clear that everyone involved loves each other. She is a lady of previous good character who has never been in trouble sort of trouble before. She has never done anything like this before.
'There are reasons for it. What we have is that she has been a victim of domestic violence for a considerable period of time. That relationship ended and she has gone to see her brother already intoxicated.
Miss Jeffs believed that her phone had been stolen by someone in the house. 'She refused to leave when asked. They tried to push her out and she has tried to stay and get her phone.
' Mr Evans added: 'I want to underline her very very genuine remorse. It is recorded in her police interview that she showed genuine and appropriate remorse. She thought her own behaviour was absolutely disgusting and she feels that way today.
'She has done the right thing, has reduced her drinking and is dealing with the relationship splitting. She is putting appropriate things in place and one thing she has asked me to tell the court, she wants to offer voluntary compensation.' In sentencing JP Stephen Storey said: 'We do feel that it's a very sad case because of the circumstances.
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