A Pembroke woman this morning admitted striking the mother of her boyfriend’s child in a fight over a borrowed cell phone.

Vondolla Santucci, 20, pleaded guilty to a single count of assault, but a second charge of trespassing relating to the same incident was dropped.

Prosecutor Susan Mulligan told the court that the victim, Preya Leverock, was at her home in St David’s on April 9 when the father of her son stopped by to pick up their child. Moments later there was another knock at her door and she opened it to find Santucci, who was described as the father’s girlfriend and a former friend of the victim.

Ms Mulligan said Santucci asked Ms Leverock to return a cell phone that she had borrowed. Ms Leverock attempted to shut the door but Santucci stopped her and a fight broke out when Santucci attempted to enter the home.

Police were contacted and Santucci was arrested. When questioned, she admitted punching Ms Leverock but could not say where exactly she had struck the victim.

Santucci told the court that the victim had borrowed her phone in January and they had since had a falling out. She said that when she asked Ms Leverock to return the phone, the victim said she would only do so when Santucci’s boyfriend bought her a new one.

“She said to come inside and get it,” Santucci said. “Going inside the house she pushed me out which is what led to the fight.”

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner ordered a social inquiry report be carried out on Santucci before her sentencing in August, with specific regard to the cost of Ms Leverock’s medical treatment.