Kemeshia Slater, 32, of Hazelhurst Road, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two counts of robbery, and was sentenced at Kingston Crown Court on Thursday (August 7).
The court heard how Slater had “consecutively three times” attacked the same victim at various locations around Tooting between the period of September 27, 2022 and October 4, 2022.
The victim was “known” to Slater and targeted due to allegedly “owing her money for drugs”, prosecutor Richard Jones said.
The first attack took place outside Tooting Broadway station on September 27, where Slater, who was accompanied by another man, approached the victim and asked for £20.
After the victim gave her the money, Slater “demanded more”, but when the victim refused, Slater punched her in the face before leaving with the victim’s backpack.
In her account made to police, the victim described how she was “punched in the face” and “kicked in the mouth” before she dropped to the floor.
Members of the public gave chase and the victim’s bag was later recovered with the help of police.
The second attack took place on October 4, 2022, when the victim was attending a phone shop in Tooting Broadway.
Slater approached her saying “Hello Lisa” and, after the victim said “don’t talk to me”, Slater punched her in the face, resulting in the two having a fight on the street whilst members of the public walked past, which could be seen during CCTV footage shown to the court.
The third attack took place two days later outside a bus stop on Tooting Broadway in the evening.
The court heard how Slater swore at the victim before “punching and spitting at her for 30 seconds”, stealing her bank card and purse.
Following the altercation the victim was left with a bruise and a bloodshot eye, however didn’t wish to seek medical statement or make an impact statement, the court heard.
Speaking on the incidents, Richard Jones said: “There is a method to her attack, there appears to be a punch first.”
Slater, who represented herself in court, addressed the court and said: “I apologise for my behaviour at the time, I was really struggling with myself, I lost my parents, my child and I was on drugs at the time, and I would just like to apologise.”
The 32-year-old also added that she had since come off drugs as well as methadone, following a period in prison for another offence, and that she was seeking help from police.
Slater, who is “known to the courts”, has 17 previous convictions for 34 offences.
Judge Simon Heptonstall sentenced Slater to four years in prison and ordered that she pay a £228 victim surcharge – she will serve up to 40 per cent of the time before being released on licence.
