Glam mum, 29, who savagely kicked & punched her former pal in savage street brawl after funeral is spared prison

A GLAM mum who savagely kicked and punched her former pal in a savage brawl has been spared prison due to lack of spaces. Courtney Best, 29, set about former friend Sammy Jo-Driver twice in just a few minutes after she got involved in a physical argument with her following a funeral. Courtney Best, 29, twice attacked her friend Sammy Jo-Driver, 38, following a funeral earlier this year Credit: Cavendish Best has been spared prison due to lack of spaces Credit: Cavendish During the vicious twin assault outside her home in Warrington, Cheshire, Best initially rained down kicks and punches upon 38-year old Miss Driver before momentarily going back into her property. She then re-emerged just minutes later to unleash further violence on the victim and the two women ended up on the floor wrestling together and grabbing at each other’s hair before being separated. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Mum of three Miss Driver, also of Warrington, suffered a broken wrist plus multiple cuts and bruises to her face while her son Carlo, 20, who intervened to protect his mother, was slapped in the face. In a statement to police, Miss Driver said she had been left “psychologically traumatised” by the attack and had no idea “what caused this incident and how it ended up being so violent”. The 29-year-old was also ordered to pay Miss Driver £3,000 in compensation Credit: Cavendish She was also banned from contacting Miss Driver and her son for three years Credit: Cavendish At Warrington Magistrates Court Best who has a previous conviction for battery admitted assault occasioning harm and common assault and could have faced between 36 weeks and 18 months in jail. But she was freed with 12 months in prison suspended for 18 months thanks to new sentencing guidelines introduced by the Labour government this year to tackle prison over-crowding. In sentencing JP Fraser Geekie told Best that “the prisons are apparently full and we are now obliged to suspend your period of imprisonment”. She was also ordered to pay Miss Driver £3,000 in compensation and £500 damages to Carlo. Most read in The Sun The incident occurred on February 16 after Miss Driver and her ex-boyfriend James Clough had attended the funeral of a mutual friend in Warrington. At the time Clough, 34, was dating Best although according to posts on Facebook she and Miss Driver appeared to be on good terms. The violence started when Clough was being dropped off at Best’s home and a violent row erupted between him and Miss Driver over property left by their late friend. Miss Marta Pawlowska, prosecuting, said: “After the altercation commenced the defendant became involved in violence against Sammy Jo Driver and her son Carlo. ”Sammy states that after she fell to the ground the defendant came outside and punched and kicked her while she was on the ground. ”She also alleges that the defendant slapped Carlo when attempting to intervene in the incident and protect his mother. “The initial confrontation ended and the group outside returned to their vehicle whilst the defendant went inside her home. ”But during the second incident the defendant comes outside, leaned into the vehicle and a mutual physical confrontation occurred between the parties. ”During the incident both became engaged in a struggle, both moved around the side of the vehicle, both ended on the floor. The defendant pushed Sammy before she fell – then she punched and slapped her while she was on the floor. “The pair became involved in a sustained struggle including grabbing each other’s hair. The footage shows the defendant slapping Carlo as she was being escorted away from the confrontation.” The court was shown images of Miss Driver’s injuries and medical evidence said she “sustained swelling and cuts to her nose, chest pain, swelling to the left forearm” as well as “a closed fracture to the radius and ulna and facial injuries”. Clough who lives in Warrington was also charged with assault over the incident and is facing trial later this year – he and Best have since separated. In mitigation for Best, who has a young daughter, defence solicitor Joe Yates said: “At the time she was in a relationship with Mr Clough and the incident itself occurred following a funeral which he attended as did his former partner Sammy Driver. Miss Best had not gone to the funeral. ”It is conceded that alcohol was consumed at the wake and afterwards Miss Driver was bringing James Clough back to Miss Best’s address. ” In the car an argument took place regarding some property left by the deceased and about who should have responsibility for that property. Unfortunately, the argument became physical in the vehicle. “Tempers were running high and James exited the vehicle and slammed the door. The occupants of the vehicle took exception to the way Miss Driver was treated. ”Miss Best had been asleep in her flat when she was woken up by the disturbance. She saw the physical altercation between Mr Clough and Miss Driver and went to intervene. ”She accepts she became involved in a physical altercation with Miss Driver but says it was not an unprovoked assault. She said she did what she did because at the time she believed she was trying to defend Mr Clough. ”She now accepts with the benefit of hindsight she immediately became far too aggressive to be acting in self-defence. ”She became embroiled in the fight between the parties with both ladies ending up on the floor and exchanging blows before separation.” Mr Yates added: “After the first incident the other party did not leave and they remained in the vehicle. ”Further arguments then took place over the telephone resulting in Mr Clough going back outside the address, asking them to leave. ” Miss Best then came out again and there was a physical coming together of the parties. At that point this lady clearly used excessive force and she accepts some responsibility for the injuries sustained by Miss Driver. “In the interview Miss Best believed because comments had been directed towards her and because of the physical nature of argument she was defending herself and stopping people going into her property. ”She clearly she went beyond the use of reasonable force. She is no longer in a relationship with Mr Clough and she does not associate with the Driver family at all.” Best was also banned from contacting Miss Driver and her son for three years under the terms of a restraining order.