A WOMAN who terrorised her mother after she turned up at her home and attacked her has been given a 10 month jail term.

Dawn Whelan, 41, from Oswaldtwistle, launched a sustained and prolonged assault on petrified Susan Haworth, pulling her hair, kicking her and threatening her with a screwdriver.

During the trouble on March 6, Whelan, who had texted her mother, saying, "I hope you drop dead," pulled the screwdriver out of her pocket and told her I: "I will stick this in your throat."

Police later found two blades in her bag, Burnley Crown Court heard.

The court was told Whelan had mental health problems, had struck when she was ill and probably wouldn't have done it had she been well.

Her mother believed she had offended because she hadn't taken her medication.

The defendant, of Roegreave Road, admitted affray and two counts of possessing a bladed article.

Lisa Worsley, prosecuting, said Mrs Haworth said her daughter had been diagnosed with psychosis and had been previously sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

Miss Worsley said on March 6, the defendant was rambling and making no sense and was aggressive.

The defendant then started to attack her mother, pulling her hair and kicking her. The victim tried to call the police, but the defendant grabbed the phone. Whelan dragged her out of the bedroom to the top of the stairs by her hair, pulled her from the dining room into the living room and got the screwdriver from her pocket.

The prosecutor said Whelan pushed her mother onto the settee and stood over her with the screwdriver in her hand. Mrs Haworth was in genuine fear for her safety.

The defendant then started to slap her about the face and punch her and told her not to come out of the living room.

Miss Worsley said Mrs Haworth was to tell police the attack was relentless and she was petrified.

The victim was left dizzy and sore.

Police arrived and heard Mrs Haworth shouting:" Help me. Help me." An officer forced entry and found the victim in a state of shock and distress.

Sentencing the defendant, who has spent four and half months on remand, Judge Jonathan Gibson said: "Quite clearly, the offence was committed at a time when you were ill. You certainly had an element of control, but I have seen medical evidence which tends to suggest that but for your mental illness, you may well not have committed the offence.”