Grade-A student, 22, gave birth in prison after ‘going off the rails’ and attacking two women while experimenting with Ketamine
Ciara Mansell, of Rhondda, South Wales, was jailed for battering her lover and hurling a glass at a pubgoer
A TOP student gave birth inside a women’s prison after drugs turned her into a violent criminal.
Ciara Mansell, 22, was a grade-A pupil with a bright future before she began experimenting with the deadly Class B drug Ketamine.
Mansell, who styled herself on Marilyn Monroe, was jailed for attacking two women leaving one scarred for life.
A court heard she was pregnant at the time of the last attack and gave birth while on remand.
Mansell sobbed in the dock as Judge Tom Crowther QC told her: “The tragedy is that your offending is in contrast to the way you were living your life.
“You were an academic and trustworthy girl with a bright future. It is a great shame.
“You have been through the dreadful experience of having your child taken away from you within days of giving birth in prison.
“You are going to have to decide to change for yourself and for your child.”
Mansell was studying for her A-levels when she met an older man who introduced her to Ketamine and other drugs.
The court heard she “went off the rails” and was convicted of a series of offences including causing actual bodily harm, battery and harassment.
In June last year she attacked her lesbian lover Holly Edwards who feared for her life during a “sustained and bloody” assault.
Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard she played loud music to drown out Miss Edwards’ screams.
Mansell later scarred a woman for life by throwing a pint glass at her while being ejected from a pub.
After her arrest she sent offensive messages to a woman witness calling her a c*** and saying: “You’ve got a mouth bigger than the Sahara Desert.”
James Evans, defending, said: “Her criminal record does not do her any good at all.
“But she has had a lot of time on remand to reflect on what she has done with her life.
“There has been a genuine expression of remorse - the shame she feels is multiplied because she is not able to care for her child.”
The court heard the baby is being looked after by Mansell’s “deeply concerned” mother who was in court to support her daughter.
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Mansell, of Tylorstown, Rhondda, South Wales, admitted wounding, causing actual bodily harm and sending offensive messages by text.
She was jailed for two-and-a half years but will be freed early next year after serving part of her sentence while on remand.
Mansell was give a five-year restraining order preventing her from contacting her three female victims.