THREE 21-year-olds who attacked a woman outside her home leaving her with a long-standing face injury which makes smiling too painful have been spared jail.

Joshua Bradshaw, Morgan Myers, and Charlie Hargreaves were sentenced at Burnley Crown Court, two years after the offence was committed.

The court heard how on May 7, 2017, following an altercation between Hargreaves and her boyfriend, Jordan Butschok, the three defendants had driven to Mr Butschok’s home with the intention of ‘killing him’.

However, the court heard that in anticipation of there being trouble, Mr Butchok’s mother, Jane Parker, had come out of the house to try to diffuse the situation, but in doing so had been assaulted by Bradshaw and threatened by Myers and Hargreaves.

Prosecuting, Martin Callery said: “Jane was struck a blow to the face that she described as a punch. Her lip was pierced by a tooth and there was a lot of blood.

“The consequences have been a long-standing facial injury in which she suffered a fracture and now may need to take medication for the rest of her life.

“A view was taken that Charlie Hargreaves was the author in all of this, although her part was a lesser part than the two male protagonists."

In a victim personal statement from Ms Parker read out in court, she explained how, almost two years on from the attack, she is still attending specialist appointments for the injury.

She said: “I have had a second operation in the hope that the nerve damage to my face can be reversed. I have been unable to drink liquids, only through a straw.

“I can’t do things normal people can do, not even a smile.

“I’m taking strong painkillers to cope with the immense pain. I’m a 41-year-old who takes great pride in her appearance.

“I often wonder what the assailants would think if this was done to their mother. I don’t know what the future holds for me. Will I even get the feeling in my face back?

“This unprovoked attack outside my home will live with me for the rest of my life.”

In defence for Hargreaves, Laura Barbour said her client was mortified at her actions.

Andrew Nuttall and Tim Storrie, representing Bradshaw and Myers respectively, said their clients had not breached their bail and had not caused the victim any further trouble since the date of the offence.

Judge Andrew Jeffries said the fact it had taken two years to sentence the three defendants was ‘disgraceful’.

He said: “The fact this case has taken so long to appear before me, effectively means the defendants have already been serving a two-year suspended sentence.

“It’s a well-known maxim that justice delayed is justice denied.

“Had this case come before me earlier, Myers and Bradshaw would have gone to prison.”

Hargreaves, of Foxglove Close, Burnley, was given four weeks suspended for 12 months for her part in the affray.

Myers was handed a nine-month prison sentence suspended for 12 months for his part in the affray.

And for GBH, Bradshaw, of Stanthorpe Walk, Burnley, was given a nine-month sentence suspended for 12 months, and ordered to pay a £400 fine for breaching his previous suspended sentence. A 12-month restraining order was also made against all three defendants.