A single mum-of-three is among those who were spared jail because of their children.
Gayle Smylie held a shard from a broken mug to the throat of her love rival after she invaded her home.
The 29-year-old and Anthony Moss, who has fathered children to both women, stormed their victim's home after she allegedly made comments about Symlie's family on social media.
A mum who stabbed a man was spared jail because she was due to give birth the weekend after her court hearing.
Angelika Struckaja stabbed the man after he made an unwanted sexual comment towards her.
Another mum, who claimed she knew nothing of her boyfriend's cannabis farm at their home - despite having the drug stuck on her legs - also walked free from court.
Danielle Sabatani was in the middle of dismantling the cannabis farm when police arrived, but she was spared a jail sentence due to her kids.
All judges have to follow sentencing guidelines, set out by the Sentencing Council, and also take into account Court of Appeal rulings when making a decision on as to whether to suspend a custodial sentence or send a defendant straight to jail.
Factors indicating it may be right to suspend a jail sentence include that: "Immediate custody will result in significant harmful impact upon others."
The guidelines say being the "sole or primary carer for dependent relatives" is a fact which may "result in an upward or downward adjustment from the sentence arrived at so far".
This means having children who are dependent on you can be the difference between ending up behind bars or walking free from court.
Read the details of these cases and others below.
Gayle Smylie
A mum-of-three held a shard from a broken mug to a love rivals' throat after invading her home.
Gayle Smylie repeatedly hit Kelly Featherstone after her and Anthony Moss, who is said to have previously 'two-timed' the pair, stormed her home on October 20, 2018.
The 29-year-old has two children and Ms Featherstone has one child to Anthony Moss, a court heard.
Smylie and Moss drove up to the woman's home in a car with blacked out windows after she had allegedly made controversial remarks about Smylie's family online.
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The 42-year-old was dragged into her living room, struck in the leg by Moss with a bat, and repeatedly hit by Smylie.
Smylie, now of Huyton, admitted affray at the start of a trial on the basis no weapon was used.
Smylie, formerly of the Hough Green, Widnes, has six previous convictions for seven offences, including assault causing actual bodily harm in 2009.
Judge Aubrey handed her 12 months in jail, suspended for 18 months, with a 25-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement.
Smylie and Moss both received five-year restraining orders.
Moss was jailed for 21 months for his part in the incident.
Leanne Pearson
A drug driving mum who had taken cocaine with a friend while her daughter was cared for by her mum was spared jail because of her child.
Leanne Pearson led police officers on a three-minute chase through Southport after she "panicked" when they tried to stop her.
Officers tried to pull over the mum on May 15 last year, but she drove away, speeding through a residential area.
The 28-year-old cried in the dock when she was grilled by a top Liverpool judge who asked her "what if a nine-year-old girl had stepped out into the road".
Pearson, of Kensington Road, Southport, admitted driving a motor vehicle dangerously and driving with cannabis and cocaine in her system above the specified limit.
She has two previous convictions for dissimilar offences.
Pearson was handed a 10 month sentence suspended for 18 months and was disqualified from driving for two years.
She must also complete 30 days of Rehabilitation Activity Requirements and 100 hours of unpaid work.
Abbie Larkin
A mum-of-two battered a teenager and brandished a broken mirror.
Abbie Larkin kicked a 17-year-old girl in an alleyway before threatening to "slash her" with a broken mirror on February 20, 2019.
The now 21-year-old was spared jail by a judge who said the fact she had small children played an "important" part in his decision.
A court heard there was an "ill-feeling" between the two and Larkin attacked her victim after she had hid in an alley, grabbing her hair and punching her "moderately lightly".
A prosecutor said: "Whilst on the floor Ms Larkin kicked Ms Knowles to the chest then to her face three times."
She then "went to a nearby alleyway and picked up a broken mirror".
Larkin, of Fry Street, St Helens, admitted possession of an offensive weapon and assault causing actual bodily harm.
The court heard Larkin is unemployed and cares for her two young children.
She was handed a 12 month sentence suspended for two years and must complete 25 Rehabilitation Activity Requirements.
Danielle Sabatani
A mum-of-three who greeted police with cannabis stuck to her trousers claimed she didn't know her boyfriend had been growing the plants in their home.
Danielle Sabatini was in the middle of dismantling the cannabis farm when police arrived at her West Derby house in Tewkesbury Close.
Her partner Ross Bracken had already been arrested for driving while high on cocaine and had said he was growing the crop to pay for stem cell treatment for his 16-year-old son, who has epilepsy.
Bracken, 36, was jailed after he crashed into a couple's car - causing serious injuries - during a 130mph motorway chase.
Sabatini, of previous good character, later pleaded guilty to knowingly permitting production of cannabis on her premises.
She was handed a 12-month community order, with a 25-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement.
The judge said: "I do not add a punitive element in your case there are circumstances which would mean it's not appropriate to do so, in particular because you're responsible for looking after your children."
Bracken, who has 17 convictions for 29 offences, admitted producing cannabis and possessing the drug with intent to supply.
He was jailed for two years and two months.
Jenna Walker
Jenna Walker left her ex with "wobbly" teeth after hurling a Yankee Candle at his car.
The mum-of-two launched the scented candle at Paul Williams' vehicle, but it hit his face when he rolled down the window.
Mr Williams, who was dropping off their daughter, was left needing stitches and with "wobbly" teeth.
But the 30-year-old, of Crocus Avenue, Claughton, Wirral, who had no previous convictions, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm.
Walker was described as "acting snotty" and moaning that her ex had brought the wrong size nappies when he arrived at 7.15pm on May 1.
When he left to get into his car, she followed him, picked up the candle and raised it above her head.
Magistrates heard Mr Williams threatened to "smash up" Walker's car if she threw the candle.
He lowered the passenger side window just as she threw the candle, which hit and cut his lip, leaving him covered in blood.
Walker's lawyer claimed she was pushed into a table by Mr Williams before the attack and shoved to the ground outside, leaving her with bruising.
He said she had two young children, worked full time and was the sole financial provider for both of the youngsters.
Walker was handed a 12-month community order, a 10-week home curfew and 15-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement.
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Angelika Struckaja
A mum-to-be who stabbed a man was spared jail because her baby was due the weekend after her hearing.
Angelika Struckaja stabbed Mark Smith after he made an unwanted sexual comment towards her on August 22, 2019.
The 24-year-old first replied "eat my p***y" before stabbing Mr Smith in the back with a kitchen knife.
He had to be airlifted to hospital for emergency treatment after Struckaja ran at him with the knife as he sat on a wall.
She admitted unlawful wounding and the court heard she had a "momentary loss of control" when she had been drinking.
She had no previous convictions, the court heard.
Struckaja, of Salisbury Street, Southport, was handed two years in prison, suspended for two years, with a 20-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement.
