A 36-year-old woman has avoided jail after deliberately driving her car at her estranged mother outside her workplace in Cradley Heath. Tammy McMullon, unemployed and receiving Universal Credit, confronted her mother Lisa Randell at a local garage on December 11, 2023, escalating family tensions into a violent incident.
According to court evidence, McMullon took advantage of seeing her mother outside and intentionally mounted the pavement in her Ford Focus, striking her and causing bruising and swelling. CCTV footage clearly captured the act, contradicting McMullon’s claim that it was an accident. Despite overwhelming evidence and a jury conviction for assault occasioning actual bodily harm and dangerous driving, McMullon avoided prison but was handed a 12-month sentence suspended for 18 months.
Lisa Randell described the ordeal as traumatic, leaving her scared to leave her home and deeply affected emotionally. The incident has also damaged their family relationships and caused her significant distress. She reported feelings of fear and even contemplated taking her own life following the attack.
READ MORE: Kyogo Furuhashi Departure Highlights Birmingham City’s Failed Transfer Window
READ MORE: Proposed Nature Conservation Area Could Impact Birmingham City FC’s New Stadium Plans
The court heard of a longstanding troubled relationship between mother and daughter, with McMullon blaming her mother for their animosity. McMullon’s defense noted her difficult upbringing, her role as a carer for a grandmother with serious medical issues, and for her husband, who has significant mental health challenges. Having previously earned a degree in dance and worked in local community roles, McMullon hopes to rebuild her life despite the conviction.
Recorder Barker emphasized the deliberate nature of the assault but acknowledged McMullon’s contributions to the community. She imposed a 10-year restraining order banning contact between McMullon and her mother, alongside a two-year driving ban, a requirement to complete rehabilitation activities, and an order to pay £500 in compensation.
The judge noted parliamentary rules limiting custodial sentences to suspension in cases under 12 months, explaining this influenced the sentencing decision despite the seriousness of the offense and evidence presented. McMullon’s story serves as a sobering reminder of how family disputes, when unresolved, can escalate into dangerous confrontations with lasting consequences for all involved.