A neighbour from hell has avoided a prison sentence despite arming herself with a kitchen knife and attacking a terrified woman living next door.
Samantha Ramsden, 32, of Portbean Road in Newquay , lunged at her neighbour after becoming falsely convinced that it was their fault her children had been taken into care.
Ramsden appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence after previously admitting one charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Prosecuting barrister Philip Lee described how on January 2 of last year the victim noticed the defendant walk past a window and into her porch.
The victim, her husband and Ramsden had lived next to each other for a year but weren’t friends.
Mr Lee said: “The victim heard banging and asked the defendant what she was doing. The defendant asked her why she hated her so much and why she called social services and had her children removed.
“The defendant was wearing a dressing gown and pyjamas and had her hand in her pocket as if she was concealing something. She said ‘I’m going to kill the lot of you’ and produced a knife and lunged at her with it.
“The victim tried to grab the knife and suffered cuts to her finger and wrist.”
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The victim’s husband eventually arrived and removed Ramsden before throwing her over a garden fence.
Ramsden was found by attending police officers in her room next to two knives and in interview Ramsden suggested the victim had injured herself.
The court also heard how the housing association had received a number of complaints by various neighbours about Ramsden’s anti-social behaviour.
Defending Ramsden, Ed Bailey said that she expresses remorse and had not been well at the time of the incident.
He said: “She wants to apologise to the victim and it’s quite plain her emotionally unstable personality disorder can in some way explain but not excuse this appalling conduct.
“She misconstrued that a threat was posed to her and it all stems from a very difficult childhood.”
Mr Bailey added that Ramsden, a mum of two, wishes to leave the area and return to the north.
Sitting as judge, Recorder Andrew Oldland QC said: “On January 2 2018 you armed yourself with a knife and knocked on your neighbour’s door and accused the victim of being responsible for your children being removed from your care.
"An argument ensued and you lashed out causing her defensive injuries. You shouted ‘I’m going to kill the lot of you’.
“It was an extremely frightening set of circumstances for your neighbour to face and I’m not surprised she continues to fear your actions caused.”
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Recorder Oldland countered by saying that Ramsden had kept out of trouble with the police for many years and that she was not well at the time of the offence suffering from a condition that causes her to react irrationally, compulsively and erratically.
Recorder Oldland concluded by saying that society is safest with Ramsden receiving the right help for her mental health difficulties, something which will best happen on the outside.
She was given a 15 month prison sentence suspended for two years and must complete a rehabilitation activity requirement.
She was also made subject of a restraining order preventing her from contacting her former neighbours and entering St Columb Major, where the attack took place.
