Campbell then began a campaign of harassment which included physically threatening the victim and spreading false rumours such as that her husband was a child molester.
The final straw came in May 2023 when the victim and her son were ambushed by Campbell on their way to school.
Campbell produced a flick knife and threatened each of them, saying “this is what I have for you”, before spitting in the mum’s face, the court heard.
Selonie Campbell (Image: Met Police)
Campbell, 49, now living in Mitcham Junction, was arrested and found guilty by a jury of harassment, threatening both the mum and son with a knife, and assaulting the mum by spitting on her.
On Thursday, August 28, Judge Anthony Hyams-Parish said Campbell had put the victim “through hell” by “whipping up all sorts of hatred” towards her within the Sutton community.
He gave her a two-year suspended sentence, meaning she won’t see the inside of a prison cell unless she offends again in the next two years.
Judge Anthony Hyams-Parish said: “I cannot emphasise how lucky you are to escape an immediate prison sentence today.
“Were it not for the fact that you are a mother of two children and your health issues, you would be going to prison immediately.”
In a victim impact statement, the boy said: “When she pulled the knife out I thought she was going to stab us. I felt super scared.”
The mum said: “There are no words that can capture the fear, pain and emotional devastation this has caused both me and my son.
“We were victims of an unprovoked and deeply traumatic attack by someone we once shared a community with, being threatened with a knife is something I never imagined I’d have to experience or live through. Especially in front of my child.
“In that moment all I could think about was protecting myself and my son.
“The fear etched on his face is something I will never forget. It changed him. It changed us both.”
It also bans her from using “abusive, insulting or inflammatory” language against her or her family.
“Frankly, I’m concerned that during this trial the evidence was clear that you were whipping up all kinds of hatred against this person. I take the view that the restraining order is necessary to protect her,” Judge Hyams-Parish said.
