Drunk horsewoman, 22, who scarred glamorous love rival is spared jail

An equestrian who scarred a glamorous love rival for life in a drunken ‘glassing’ attack following a day at the races broke down and wept as she was freed by a judge – to the fury of her victim.

Mia Troake, 22, smashed a gin glass in the face of fellow horse rider Felicity Calveley after goading her in a restaurant.

Miss Calveley previously dated Troake’s boyfriend and was being taunted over the relationship. 

In the moments before the assault, Troake who works in childcare services said ‘Do you want to f**k my boyfriend?’ only for Miss Calveley to reply flippantly: ‘Yeh, I want to f**k him’.

Troake then launched the stemmed glass into the victim’s face cutting her upper lip and leaving fragments in her face.

Estate agent Miss Calveley from Tarporley, Cheshire required five stitches and subsequently lost her job due to needing to take time off and losing her confidence following the assault.

Mia Troake scarred a glamorous love rival for life in a drunken attack after a day at the races 

Felicity Calveley, pictured, was left needing stitches to her face after the violent attack 

Troake avoided being sent to prison after Chester Crown Court heard she was insecure 

She said: ‘The scar on my face is a constant reminder of the attack and often leads to questions from others, forcing me to repeatedly recount the traumatic event.

‘For months after the incident even smiling was painful, severely affecting my ability to express happiness. I have suffered from extreme anxiety especially in social settings. The sound of breaking glass triggers panic attacks, and I struggle to relax in crowded spaces.

‘I have been diagnosed with mild PTSD and am receiving Cognitive Behavioural Therapy online to manage symptoms. l can only attend bars or restaurants with trusted friends limiting my social interactions and support network. The emotional toll of retelling the story of the attack hinders my ability to form new social connections.

‘Professionally, I took three months off work as an estate agent due to a lack of confidence in visiting unknown people’s houses. Ultimately it resulted in my redundancy. l found another similar role but had to leave due to ongoing self-confidence issues and an inability to perform as I once did.’

Mia Troake (left) smashed a gin glass in the face of fellow horse rider Felicity Calveley (right) after goading her in a restaurant because the victim used to date her boyfriend

At Chester Crown Court, Troake from Longwell Green near Bristol, faced up to three years jail under sentencing guidelines after she admitted unlawful wounding but cried in he dock as she was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years, ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and pay £1,000 in compensation to Miss Calveley.

Afterwards the victim who watched proceedings with her current boyfriend said: ‘For her to walk away with 100 hours of unpaid work does not affect her in any way. The fact is that she is getting away with it so easily. I am so disappointed that this is the justice I get.’

The incident occurred on September 24 2022 after Troake then aged 20 and at the time living in Chester had gone out drinking following the season finale of the city’s races.

Ms Calveley is furious that her attacker did not go to prison over the violent assault 

Ms Calveley suffered from anxiety after the attack meaning she could not return to work 

Tom McLoughln, prosecuting, said: ‘Felicity Calveley was the ex-partner of the defendant’s boyfriend at the time of the offending. On the evening in question, they were in two parties in Church Cafe on Newgate Street in Chester.

‘The relationships between the two groups were civil. They effectively said ‘Hello’ and then parted ways. But a little time later the defendant approached Miss Calveley and appeared to be drunk. The defendant had a gin glass in her hand and asked Miss Calveley, ‘Do you want to f**k him?’ meaning the boyfriend.

‘Miss Calveley said ‘Yes I want to f**k him’ or words to that effect and the situation then escalated dramatically. The defendant hit Miss Calveley to the face with a glass with a gin glass saying ‘F**k you’. Miss Calveley realised that there was liquid on her face but mistook it to be liquid from the glass. She suddenly realised it was her own blood.’

Troake had no previous convictions. In mitigation solicitor advocate Peter Barnett said his client has subsequently split up with her boyfriend and added: ‘It would seem quite clear that at the time she had insecurity issues in respect for her relationship and the partner she had at the time.

Troake’s lawyer said she had subsequently split up with her boyfriend and added: ‘It would seem quite clear that at the time she had insecurity issues’

‘Clearly, this assault was impulsive, clearly there was no planning, it was a single blow. She was immature and she had a lack of life experience. She showed clear remorse in discussions with the probation officer.’

In sentencing the judge Mr Recorder Eric Lamb also issued Troake with a a restraining order prohibiting her from contacting Miss Calveley indefinitely.

He told her: ‘The effects of what you have done to Felicity Calveley have been long-lasting and substantial.

‘Miss Calveley has made it clear that your actions have resulted in her being beset by anxiety and fear. You have left her with mild PTSD of a sort that she has to undertake cognitive behaviour therapy in an effort to overcome it.

‘Not only has she suffered medically she has also suffered a lot of substantial effects, the impact on her social life, her work was affected for months, it had a direct consequence on her finances. 

‘All of that is directly as a result of you drinking too much in the course of one day and choosing to confront someone you plainly saw as your rival.’