Charged with GBH with intent section 18 - need urgent advice

[alisha_b]

Hi there, i hope you all can help...my friend has been charged with the above and has been found guilty by the Jury and also pleaded guilty.

this all happened whilst she was at home with her 2 little boys, suddenly she had an unexpected person knocking on her. This man asked for yellow pages and she refused to give it to him and she thought it was odd for him to knock on her door at a late time. He then raised his voice she got really scared and try to shut the door but he forced himself through. He went stright through the lounge and grabbed one of her boy, she screamed at him to let go, but he then asked for money. My friend grabbed her purse and with that there was a cricket bat she somehow hit him with that and he fell on the floor. She hit him few times and he had fractured skull. This guy was taken into hosiptal and was in a coma for few weeks. the doctor said he may not survive as he had severe injuries.

My friend was charged for GBH and on bail. She will be sentenced soon. She has no previous conviction, has a good character reference. She works in a school as a teacher, she helps with charities and is a good person. Given all that does she have a change of non-custodial sentence? Her barrister said there is a chance of prison sentence that she needs to prepare. My friends family are devastated and it will ruin her life is she goes in. Her 2 boys are still in a shock of they witness and scared to sleep on their own.

I would be grateful if you can let me know what can happen...will she get a suspended sentence? have there been cases where you can get non-custodial sentence? barrister tried to prove this was a self defence but jury seen the injuries but she was scared as he had her boy.

Please advise?

[fredpuli47]

alisha_b, please see my answer to your first question posted on this. It's to be found at the 29th reply !