Criminology student, 26, attacked McDonald's worker with her mobile phone after ... trends now

An Open University criminology student used her mobile phone as a weapon to split open the head of a hero McDonalds worker during a vicious late night beating.

Rachel Lomax, 26, jumped on Shaun Bannon and repeatedly battered him over the back of the head with the device as the victim bravely intervened after violence flared when she was asked to leave.

During the 11.40pm assault Mr Bannon tried to restrain Lomax's boyfriend Tyler Ager only to feel 'banging' against the back of his head multiple times before blood gushed down his forehead.

He was left with a deep one-and-a-half inch cut to his head which required stapling.

When quizzed office administrator Lomax, from St Helens, Merseyside who is also studying law blamed her violent behaviour on 'unresolved' mental health issues.

At Warrington magistrates' court, she faced up to six months jail after she admitted assault by beating under sentencing guidelines but was given 12 weeks in prison, suspended for a year. She was also ordered to complete 80 hours of unpaid work, 20 rehabilitation activity days and pay Mr Bannon £350 in compensation.

The incident occurred on October 1 last year when Lomax and Ayger, 28, were at McDonald's restaurant in Widnes.

Nicola Parr, prosecuting said: 'Mr Bannon was working in the back kitchen when he heard an argument in the front between customers and management. He did not think much about it as it happens all the time around that time of night.

'But then he heard someone threatening someone with being stabbed, so he went through to the front saw two colleagues trying to negotiate with a male and a female to try and get them to leave the restaurant.