An elderly woman was left in a state of fear, believing she was facing death, after being assaulted by a pregnant stranger during a funeral gathering. Belinda Strickland, 65, was at the funeral of a dear friend when she was unexpectedly attacked by Danielle Oliver, a mother of three. The incident resulted in Belinda sustaining fractured ribs, breathing difficulties, and a lasting diagnosis of emphysema.
Belinda, a grandmother of 14, recounted feeling like her life was in jeopardy during the assault by the unknown assailant. Shocking images of her swollen and bruised face in a hospital bed depicted the aftermath of the attack, where she spent over a week recuperating from her injuries.
The retired Belinda was paying her respects at a funeral event for Terry, 60, the partner of her close friend Jane Cronin, when the assault occurred on June 9 at the Conservative Club in Splott, Cardiff. Describing the incident, she mentioned, “Everyone was reminiscing about Terry, and as I was about to raise a toast in his honor, chaos erupted.”
Following the punch to her head, Belinda found herself on the floor, disoriented and in pain, only to be helped up by her partner amidst the commotion. She was bewildered by the hysterical screams of the woman who attacked her, someone she had never crossed paths with before.
After the attack, Belinda struggled to breathe and experienced intense pain, eventually being taken to the hospital where she was diagnosed with five broken ribs on one side, a fractured rib on the other, and a punctured lung. Already dealing with arthritis and heart issues, Belinda had undergone two hip replacements prior to the assault.
The assailant, Oliver, who was 22 weeks pregnant at the time, received a suspended sentence of 66 weeks for two years at Cardiff Crown Court. Additionally, she was issued a restraining order for five years and a 10-day rehabilitation activity requirement. Oliver was apprehended two days post-assault following a review of CCTV footage from the club.
In sentencing, Judge Simon Mills emphasized the seriousness of the consequences of violent acts, cautioning against the assumption that a single blow may not cause harm. Belinda expressed her dismay at the lack of a prison sentence for her attacker, highlighting the ongoing physical and emotional toll she continues to endure as a result of the unprovoked assault.
Belinda lamented the absence of an apology or any sign of remorse from Oliver, stressing the profound impact the incident has had on her life, leading her to alter her routines out of fear and pain.