Disabled mum spends eight hours in cell after fighting intruder with hammer 'to protect her baby'
A young mum who is disabled and has a brain injury says she acted 'instinctively' when she fought off an intruder with a hammer at her home.
Bethany Leese, 21, was arrested and taken into custody after using the hammer when a four-strong gang turned up to her home in Staffordshire.
The mum-of-one said she did so because an intruder 'threatened her child.'
The incident happened on Millrise Road in Milton, Stoke-on-Trent, which saw two properties cordoned off and police remaining at the scene for six hours.
A 20-year-old woman was left with 'potentially serious' injuries to her head and hands.Since the incident which took place on 4 January, Staffordshire Police have confirmed 'no further action will be taken' against Bethany.
She was detained for eight hours on suspicion of wounding with intent.
The mum-of-one claims she was protecting her two-year-old son Charlie when the woman intruder - who is known to her - turned up at her address in the early hours of January 4.She said: "We've been having petty arguments. She'd been using my number to book taxis so there were taxis ringing me at 5am - that's how the argument started.
"She rang my phone about 30 times and she was drunk. She said stuff like 'watch what I'll do to Charlie, I'll come and splatter him all over the road.'
"I didn't think anything of it at that point."
What happened at Bethany Leese's home?
Bethany says the fear kicked in when the woman turned up with three other people to her home, and she reacted instinctively.
"Then she turned up and all sorts went through my head, and I thought 'oh my God, I think they are here to follow through with the threats.
"There were four people, three girls and one guy. They were all drunk and in a right state.
"I was angry when she called but I wasn't worried because I'd known her for all my life. I didn't think she would do anything like that.
"She walked in shouting and threatening me. I saw three others standing in my doorway.
"She was kicking off and threatening us. I picked up a hammer and hit her with it.
"I did everything I could to make sure she couldn't get near my baby.
"The front door was open because my boyfriend had gone to the shops. He was sitting in his car when this happened.
"When he heard the commotion he came and got them out but they still wouldn't leave. They were banging on the door and window. They wouldn't go."
After the incident, Bethany took her toddler Charlie to her mum's house before being arrested and taken into custody. She was released on bail eight hours afterwards.
"It was a horrible experience" - Bethany says she was 'terrified' for her child.
"I would've been in bed if these people didn't turn up. It was a massive shock to me. I did what any mum would do.
"I was locked up for eight hours and interviewed. It was a horrible experience. I was fuming at the fact I was the only one arrested.
"I am disabled and have a brain injury. I acted out of instinct. I didn't stand a chance against four people."
The young mum says she has now cut all ties with the woman, adding "there's no reason to speak to her again."
"I've known her all my life and never expected this to happen. It's upsetting that she has gone and done this."A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: “No further action is being taken”.