Ashley Brown and Catherine Francis handed suspended prison sentences for assaults at Nisa Local store in Ashley

ATTACKING people at an Ashley store landed a man and woman with suspended prison sentences when they appeared before magistrates.

Ashley Brown (41), of Dinham Road, New Milton, and Catherine Francis (38), of Glynville Close, Wimborne, faced charges over an incident at Nisa Local on Ashley Road on Saturday 1st February.

Brown pleaded guilty to two charges of assault by beating relating to separate male victims.

Another charge of assaulting a woman by beating was withdrawn, as was common assault allegations relating to her and the two men.

Francis pleaded guilty to assaulting a woman by beating, while a charge of common assault relating to the same victim was withdrawn.

The Southampton Bench ruled both defendants’ offences were so serious that only a custodial sentence could be justified.

A two-month jail term, suspended for 12 months, was handed down to Brown, while Francis was given a one-month term, also suspended for a year.

As well as these, Brown was told to pay £50 compensation to each of his assault victims; and Francis must pay £100 to her assault victim.