Couple with six children who viciously punched and kicked grandmother in sandwiches row are jailed for three years
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A married couple who viciously punched, kicked and stamped on a grandmother in a row over a tray of sandwiches have each been jailed for three years.
Greg and Maria Toole together attacked 60-year-old Dorothy Matthews following the "senseless" argument about the tray being taken away from an engagement party.
Maria, 32, was described as being "completely out of control" when she dragged Miss Matthews from a taxi in front of her three grandchildren and repeatedly punched her.
Her 33-year-old husband Greg then began kicking the grandmother as she lay on the ground of a working men's club car park in Snodland, Kent.
Miss Matthews described how she thought she was going to die as she heard her "body cracking".
She told a court all she could do was curl up in a ball and said she thought she would never be able to get up.
Greg and Maria Toole, who have six children, acted together in a "most unpleasant" attack on Miss Matthews, a judge said.
Self-emoloyed builder Greg, who has previous convictions for violence, joined in after shouting they should not "start on his wife", who gave birth to her sixth child while awaiting trial.
Miss Matthews suffered a fractured sternum and three broken neck vertebrae in the violent onslaught, dubbed a "sandwich tray war" by Judge Adele Williams.
It occurred after Miss Matthews's daughter-in-law helped herself to the plastic sandwich platters as they left the celebrations on February 18 last year.
Described in court as being a trial "with aspects of the soap opera about it", Miss Matthews was first hit up to 10 times by Maria Toole, whose youngest child is just 15 weeks old.
The gran was then kicked and stamped on by Greg.
"I heard cracks in my body, I could hear my body cracking inside, and then I felt a deep crack. I was in agony," said Miss Matthews.
"It (the attack) felt like forever. I didn't think it would end. I thought I was dying.
"I thought I would never be able to get up and I felt I would die on that spot."
The Tooles, of Snodland, denied inflicting grievous bodily harm but were unanimously convicted by a jury on Friday June 29.
Sentencing them today at Maidstone Crown Court in Kent, Judge Adele Williams said jail was inevitable despite the impact on their children.
"This was a most unpleasant attack upon a woman older than each of you.
"There was a senseless argument about sandwich trays and you, Maria Toole, began to exchange verbal abuse.
"You were very drunk and angry and pursued them to the taxi," she told them.
"It was a joint attack and each of you is equally culpable and responsible.
"Dorothy Matthews sustained serious injuries and I have heard a victim personal statement from her which makes clear the pain, suffering and distress that she has suffered.
"She has, not surprisingly, found this to be a deeply traumatic experience and experiences ongoing physical problems.
"It has also affected her psychologically. She has lost confidence and fears for her future.
"I'm satisfied proper arrangements have been made for the care of your children but I do not underestimate the effect on the children of separation from both parents."
The judge added: "You, Maria Toole, were completely out of control. You started the violence.
"CCTV showed how you ran after them and had to be pulled away and prevented from returning to continue the attack.
"You, Greg Toole, used your foot to inflict injury by kicking and stamping on your victim.
"It was a sustained attack, a shod foot was used and two of you were involved.
"Also, the victim's grandchildren were present in the taxi."
(Image: Google Maps)
The court was told the Tooles' children, three of whom are under school age, will be cared for in their family home by an aunt and their grandmother.
However, Judge Williams remarked it would be an "advantageous arrangement" if Maria and the youngest child were reunited in a mother and baby unit.
Miss Matthews, known as Dot, was leaving Snodland Working Men's Club with her family when she was attacked at about 11.30pm.
Just seconds earlier her daughter's partner, Chelsea Farinaro, had been confronted about leaving with the sandwich servers and so they were returned.
Prosecutor Iestyn Morgan said at the start of the trial on June 26: "This is a sad case, as most cases are, with aspects of the soap opera about it because this occurred after an engagement party where everything had gone well throughout the evening.
"Then, at the very end, an argument starts over a plate or tray of sandwiches being taken from the party.
"That argument ends up with a 60-year-old lady in hospital with a fracture to her sternum and several fractures to her neck."
Miss Matthews spent two weeks in hospital recovering from her injuries, needed full-time care for several weeks after her discharge, and was off work for three months.
In a statement to the court, the one-time keen walker said: "I feel like I want to put a sign around my neck saying 'Fragile'. One thing the assault has taught me is that you don't know what is ahead of you.
"I went out for the evening to what was considered a safe place. I am now nervous about being out and about and fear for my future.
"I don't want this to turn me into an old lady. I'm 60 years old and have always considered myself to be young at heart. But since this has happened I feel my age.
"I am angry this has happened and I am upset my grandchildren were there and this will be in their memories. I cannot believe they did this in front of my grandchildren. It is despicable."
(Image: Google Street View)
The court heard the engagement party was being held by a work colleague of Miss Matthews' at a cab firm in Maidstone.
Miss Farinaro was in the car park with the sandwich tray when a woman told her they could not be taken. CCTV showed her placing the server on the ground.
Footage also revealed Maria Toole flicking her cigarette at them as they walked past her to their waiting taxi.
Already in the vehicle were the three grandchildren, aged nine, six and four, Miss Matthews' daughter Somma Mockford, and another married couple.
Miss Matthews said they had all enjoyed themselves at the party and took the sandwiches on leaving because plenty of food was left over.
The court heard she was sitting in the taxi when she heard a woman shout "You f***ing whore".
People then began banging on the windows and she said was suddenly dragged out by her clothing.
Miss Matthews recognised Maria Toole from Facebook , and described hearing a "deep crack" to her chest bone as she was kicked.
She eventually managed to flee when her daughter Somma Mockford jumped out of the cab and pulled Maria Toole away.
The court was told she heard her mother saying they were "breaking her bones" and the grandchildren were screaming.
Caroline Harris, defending Maria Toole, said her "key" mitigation was her being a "family woman".
"This is a huge punishment for her to be separated from her children during key stages in their lives. The sooner they are reunited to better," she added.
Greg Toole, who claimed he acted in self-defence while trying to protect his wife, has previous convictions and cautions for offences including biting a police officer and battery.