A young mum was arrested and placed in a police cell for eight hours after attacking an intruder who 'threatened her child'.
Bethany Leese, 21, was detained by officers after using a hammer in 'self defence' against a four-strong gang that showed up at her house.
Authorities remained at the scene of the incident for six hours, cordoning off two properties on Millrise Road in Milton.
A 20-year-old woman was taken to hospital after sustaining 'potentially serious' head and hand injuries, Stoke-on-Trent Live reports.
Staffordshire Police have since stated that ‘no further action will be taken’ against Bethany, who was taken into custody on suspicion of wounding with intent.
The mum-of-one insists she ‘instinctively’ reacted to protect her two-year-old son Charlie, when she struck the so-called victim with the tool.
She claims the woman - who is known to her - turned up at her address in the early hours of January 4 with two other women and a man.
Bethany told StokeonTrentLive: “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.
“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. But when she turned up I was worried. They were intent on doing one thing.
“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 get some juice. 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.”
Fearing for her safety, Bethany took her young son to her mum’s house before she was arrested and taken into custody. She was later released on bail.
She added: “I was terrified for my little boy. 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 relieved and glad they are taking no further action against me. I was worried I was going to get in trouble for something that someone else caused. They invaded my personal space and came into my home.
“I am disabled and have a brain injury. I acted out of instinct. I didn't stand a chance against four people.
“They intended to come into my house and harm my son. If they didn’t come into my house this wouldn’t have happened."
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