Market trader cleared of assault

Paula Walford (49) of Simpson Place, Mexborough, was acquitted of assault at Doncaster Magistrates’ Court.

Fellow trader Paul Nagy accused Mrs Walford of “storming over” to his stall and punching him in the eye on September 15 last year.

Mrs Walford (pictured) admitted going to speak with Mr Nagy, but denied assaulting him.

Mr Nagy said Mrs Walford was “shouting and swearing” as she approached from her stall 40 feet away.

She then came behind his stall, hit him in the head and pushed him in the chest, causing him to fall on a table, he told magistrates.

Mrs Walford said she had walked over to Mr Nagy at around 1pm, after buying lunch and hearing that he was spreading rumours about her.

She asked him to stop doing so, when he became loud and “animated”.

Mrs Walford said she would come back when Mr Nagy had calmed down, she told the court.

She had known Mr Nagy — who is her daughter’s uncle — for around 35 years, the court heard.

Both had been trading at Mexborough Market for around two years when the September 15 incident occurred.

The two had previously disagreed about plans to modernise the market — Mrs Walford welcomed the changes, while Mr Nagy was opposed.

She also suspected him of damaging her stock by pouring cleaning fluid over it, the court heard.

Mrs Walford said Mr Nagy told other traders that she “grassed him up” over a rat infestation in one of his stalls, causing it to be shut down.

Mr Nagy said he suffered cuts to his left eye socket, to the side of his face when Mrs Walford hit him.

Other traders also described facial injuries, but disagreed about where they were.

Mr Nagy did not give a statement to police until a week later, when the injuries had apparently healed.

Fellow trader Ernest Strawbridge said he first noticed the confrontation as Mr Nagy was getting up off the floor, after apparently being hit.

He then said that he had seen Mrs Walford strike Mr Nagy “six times”, knocking him over.

Mr Strawbridge claimed Mr Nagy then said: “Please stop hitting me and go away — it’s assault and I’ve got witnesses.”

Mrs Walford then hit him once more as he lay on the floor, saying: “Here’s one for your witnesses,” Mr Strawbridge added.

Christian Chandler, another trader and vice-chairman of the Market Traders’ Federation, said he attended to a cut above Mr Nagy’s eye.

The gadget stall holder added that he took statements from witnesses, but no photographs of Mr Nagy’s injuries.

Fellow trader Katie Shaw described watching the confrontation from her stall, next to Mrs Walford’s.

She said Mrs Walford’s hands stayed by her side throughout, while Mr Nagy “flailed” his arms and “made noises” at her.

Ms Shaw added that she saw no injuries on Mr Nagy’s face when she passed him later the same day.

Magistrates returned a not guilty verdict after spending around 20 minutes considering the evidence.

Chairman of the bench Mr John Mendum said: “In all cases we expect inconsistencies, but in this case they are too great to be overlooked.”

Mrs Walford said she was “disappointed” in Doncaster Borough Council, who she felt should have done more to help her before the case went to court.