Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Ryan Fahey

Mum beaten with baseball bat and child called 'ugly c***' in row over neighbour's lover

A mum was beaten with a baseball bat and left with broken bones by a neighbour she had accused of making a pass at her boyfriend.

Victim Dominique Thomas, 28, has told of her horror after she was targeted by neighbour Jessica Verallo, 29, in the attack caught on a doorbell camera.

The mum had been enjoying family time in the garden with daughter Ruby, four, when she heard her neighbour hurling abuse.

Raging Verallo called little Ruby an "ugly ginger c***"".

The neighbours' feud, called a "ticking timebomb" in court, came after Dominique warned her to stay clear of her man.

And just moments later Dominique watched in terror as Verallo came storming towards her with a baseball bat and broke her arm.

Dominque, of St Fagans, Cardiff, said: "She had something in her hand that she was swinging back and forth.

The brutal attack was captured on a video doorbell (WALES NEWS SERVICE)
Verallo warned Ms Thomas to stay clear of her partner (WALES NEWS SERVICE)

Get all the latest news sent to your inbox. Sign up for the free Mirror newsletter

"I realised it was a metal baseball bat and the look of evil on her face as she stormed towards me was terrifying."

The brutal attack was launched in front of horrified children in the street as Dominique pleaded: "Stop it, please. There are kids here."

It was caught on a neighbour's doorbell camera which was later seized by police.

Dominque said: "All I could do was watch helplessly as she began swinging the baseball bat at me.

The feud between Verallo and Ms Thomas (pictured with partner Connor Knapton) was called a "ticking timebomb" in court (WALES NEWS SERVICE)

"I stumbled backwards and fell into a bush.

"As Jessica came at me with a full swing of the bat I managed to raise my arm to stop her hitting my head.

"I felt a bone snap in my arm. It was agony.

"Then bright red blood oozed out and spurted everywhere.

"I was taken to hospital and had to undergo three hours of surgery. The doctors had to put six screws and a metal plate in my arm."

Ms Thomas said she "felt the bone snap" before seeing blood ooze from a wound on her arm (WALES NEWS SERVICE)

Dominique said in the days leading up to the attack she had learned Verallo had made a pass at her partner Connor Knapton.

She said: "Obviously, I hadn't been happy at all but I didn't want some big scene. I'd texted Jessica a message and politely asked her to stay away from him."

Dominique said Verallo denied this - but days later started "screaming" at her.

Ms Verallo has been sentenced to five years in prison for GBH (WALES NEWS SERVICE)

Verallo was arrested following the attack and later found guilty of GBH with intent, and possessing an offensive weapon after a four-day trial.

The court heard the "sickening blow echoed around" their housing complex.

Verallo was jailed for five years and given a ten-year restraining order at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court in June.

Ms Thomas says she has lasting mental health issues from the brutal attack (WALES NEWS SERVICE)

Prosecutor Roger Griffiths said the doorbell video was recovered by police to arrest "ticking timebomb" Verallo.

Dominique says she now lives in fear and struggles to sleep following the horrific attack.

She said: "I am still living in the flat where the attack happened but I am hoping to move. I really don't want to live here anymore.

"I still have dreams and horrible flashbacks of that day. I don't think until the day I die I can forget it.

"I am glad I've had some justice and Jessica Verallo is in jail and can't hurt anyone else."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.