A woman has been jailed after assaulting another woman at a fireworks display in Crawley.

Monique Moss, 49, pushed one woman during an altercation, then assaulted another woman who was trying to calm her.

The victim described how she had tried to diffuse an argument involving Moss and another, but was then struck in the face.

She described the assault as “frightening and traumatic”.

Moss, of Capricorn Close, Bewbush, admitted the assaults as well as a range of other offences including thefts and driving while disqualified.

At Crawley Magistrates’ Court on 22 July she was jailed for one year in total.

The court was told how Moss was identified as a doorstep parcel thief from an address in Crawley on 8 October last year.

Then on 25 October she attended a fireworks display at Crawley Rugby Club where she assaulted two women.

Moss pushed one of the victims, and then when another woman tried to calm her down Moss struck her to the face.

On November 27 last year, officers stopped a suspected stolen vehicle being driven on the A23 at Pyecombe.

Moss was the driver and was already disqualified. She admitted to officers she had consumed crack cocaine the day before. She took a roadside DrugWipe test which showed she was positive for cocaine, however she refused to provide an evidential sample of blood in custody.

Finally in April this year, she attended the retail park at Betts Way in Crawley, entering Aldi and Pets at Home where she stole items worth £268.

In total, Moss admitted two counts of assault by beating, two counts of shop theft, one count of theft by finding, driving while disqualified, failing to provide a sample, driving without valid insurance, and failing to surrender to bail.

At Crawley Magistrates’ Court she was made the subject of a new Criminal Behaviour Order which will run for five years. The terms of the order are:

• Not to enter the Acorn Retail Park and the County Oak Retail Park in Crawley.
• Not to enter any Co-op, Morrisons, and Tesco in West Sussex.
• Not to enter any retail premises displaying a Business Crime Reduction Partnership logo.
• Not to remain on any retail premises after she has been asked to leave and not to enter any premises if she has been told to leave.
• Not to enter any business or retail premises without means to pay, and to be able to prove she has means to pay upon inspection.
• Not to interfere with vehicles or loiter around vehicles that do not belong to her.

Speaking after the case, Inspector Oliver Buckton said: “Moss has a significant criminal record which includes a previous driving disqualification from crashing a stolen vehicle into a bus stop in Crawley in 2022.

“Her most recent offences caused distress to the victims and members of the public who witnessed the assaults, as well as significant disruption to businesses.

“Our officers are working hard alongside businesses to tackle shoplifting and anti-social behaviour in Crawley. This includes identifying prolific offenders like Moss and ensuring they are the subject of strict Criminal Behaviour Orders.

“She is now serving a further custodial sentence, and a Criminal Behaviour Order has been updated to help prevent further reoffending.

“This case demonstrates our determination to catch prolific offenders who cause harm to our communities.”