A CASUALTY doctor feared for her life when a "drunken" woman grabbed hold of her throat and started to strangle her, a court was told.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Dr Judith Ngowi was lifted off the floor, pressed against the wall and could not breathe. Five months after the attack, she feels unable to cope with her job and has lost her confidence.

Her attacker, mother-of-three Denise Austin, who was said to have "many and varied problems", walked free from court after a judge said the bench had a degree of sympathy with her.

Recorder Robert Marks, sitting with two justices, said Austin attacked the medic for no very obvious reason, other than she may have been having a panic attack. He went on: "Generally, it is the case that those who have committed offences of this sort lose their liberty.

"People who work in hospitals must be protected from conduct of this sort." He added the bench was, however, mindful Austin had many and varying problems over many years, not of her own making.

Austin, 32, of Higher Tentre, Burnley, was put on probation for two years after admitting assault causing actual bodily harm. She was committed for sentence by Burnley magistrates. Aftab Karwar, prosecuting, said when the doctor went into the examination room, Austin smelled of drink. The defendant said she had had drink and a couple of cannabis joints. As Dr Ngowi was sitting down, making notes Austin grabbed her around the throat without warning and began strangling her.

The victim was frightened for her life, as Austin kept saying "what are you going to do?" She managed to put her fingers in the defendant's eyes and get away. She believed Austin would have killed her if she had not got away.

Mr Karwar said when police later turned up at Austin's home she said: "I have been waiting for you. I didn't mean to hurt her." She could not remember exactly what she had done, nor why. She "just flipped".

The doctor constantly feared going out on her own afterwards, had lost confidence and interest and felt unmotivated in her career.

Mark Stuart, defending, said Austin had spent time in institutions. She had stopped taking her medication before the offence and what happened was due to a combination of that and drink. It was not a planned attack.

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