Woman dubbed ‘Rocky Balboa’ avoids jail for pulling clump of hair from neighbour’s head in catfight 

A woman nicknamed ‘Rocky Balboa’ by her own defense attorney has avoided jail time after ripping a large lock of hair from her neighbor’s head during a brutal attack.

Divorcee Jill Pettafor, 55, who has a history of violence against family members and her ex-husband, ‘accused’ Kaye Whittaker’s mother in a parking lot after the couple became embroiled in a bitter dispute over their dogs.

He has now been ordered to pay his victim £200 in damages.

During the assault, Pettafor, from Ainsdale, near Southport, was said to have grabbed his victim’s hair so tightly that a large clump grew out.

He later said that he attacked the victim in a fit of rage after barely sleeping while caring for his own mother.

Pettafor had eight prior crimes on her record, including common assault and battery against her ex-husband and other family members.

He was given a 10-week suspended sentence and told to pay the victim £200 in compensation at Sefton Magistrates’ Court.

Her own lawyer named her ‘Rocky’ after the boxer played by Hollywood actor Sylvester Stallone in the film franchise.

At Sefton Magistrates Court, Pettafor pleaded guilty to assault and received a 10-week sentence suspended for 24 months.

He was also ordered to do 20 days of rehabilitation activity with the probation service.

Jenna Cooney, prosecutor, said: ‘On October 17 last year, police were called to a neighbor in spite of ongoing.

‘During this time, the defendant charged the victim and grabbed her by the hair and pushed her into a parking lot.

They pulled it so hard that a large bulge came out. There was a substantial use of force. We also seek compensation for the victim for her injuries.’

In mitigation, defense lawyer Mark Ellis told the court: “The defendant and the complainant live next door to each other in an apartment block and she is deeply ashamed of having committed this crime and assaulted Ms Whittaker in the manner described.” .

“You can’t dilute what happened.”

Ellis said Pettafor, who has angina, and the victim had been friends for several years before they fell out over ownership of two dogs.

She added that at the time of the crime she had been dividing time between her own house and that of her mother, who has dementia.

Pettafor was also ordered to undertake 20 days of rehabilitation activity with the probation service.

Ellis said: “At the time of the crime, she had spent several days there and had gotten very little sleep.

“He came home, met Mrs. Whittaker, and was like a red rag to a bull.

“She lunged and grabbed the lady’s hair and it was recorded on the lady’s partner’s phone.”

He said that since the attack there have been no incidents between the couple: ‘Although their paths crossed, the defendant did not attempt to intimidate or harass her in any way.

He added: ‘She tells me she started drinking when she and her husband got divorced. It was a very bitter divorce. The gentleman did not treat her well.

‘She is not suitable for unpaid work as she suffers from angina. A curfew, which she will wrestle with as she backs and forths towards her mother’s house.

In sentencing Pettafor, JP Angela McIntyre told him: ‘Your conduct that day was unacceptable. It was an unprovoked attack that caused significant damage and because of his previous convictions, he crossed the custody threshold.

‘However, due to his poor health, his care responsibilities to his mother, his previous good performance of the probation service and because there is a good prospect of rehabilitation we are going to suspend him for two years.’