Mum choked son's grandmother while he was in the room

An angry mum assaulted and strangled her son's grandmother during a heated argument about a birthday party, a court heard. Irene Zoltokova, 22, was visiting her ex-partner's mum to discuss her son's upcoming birthday celebrations when the women began arguing. Zoltokova pushed her ex's mum, Rosina Jarkova, against a fridge before choking her, reports Manchester Evening News. Speaking in her own defence at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday, she told the judge through a Czech interpreter: "I never wanted to strangle her. I was only defending myself." The incident occurred on February 8 last year. Prosecutor Samuel Barker said: "The defendant was at her ex-partner's house after having stayed the night before. "She was speaking with her ex-partner's mother where they were talking about her son's upcoming birthday plans, and an argument broke out about the birthday shopping. "As a result, the defendant got angry and lost her temper. Ms Jarkova described the defendant pushing her against the fridge, choking her with both hands around the neck. "Then during the strangulation, scratching the left side of her neck and chest area. The defendant's child was present during the attack, who was four at the time. "Ms Jarkova managed to push the defendant out of the doorway of the property and close the door behind the defendant. "Following this, she heard a commotion outside as the neighbours had started shouting, and so she re-opened the door and looked out to see the defendant smashing the glass of the rear of her vehicle with a mobile phone." The total cost of the damage done to the car was around £95. The victim sought medical advice from her doctor following the assault and was prescribed antibiotics. Don’t miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here . Zoltokova, of Linden Road, Netherley, pleaded not guilty to intentional strangulation and assault by beating, but was found guilty by a jury in April. She admitted criminal damage. Representing herself at her sentencing, she maintained her innocence, telling the judge: "What I would like to say is that some of the things the man (Mr Barker) read are untrue, because I wasn't strangling her with both hands. It wasn't like that. "I didn't pull the phone out of my pocket either, because she actually broke my phone and she threw it outside so the phone was already on the floor. "I'm sure she didn't have any medication because if I was a judge I would like to see some proof that she actually saw a doctor. And it's not true that she was trying to get me out of the house and close the door behind, that's not true." However the judge, recorder Michael Armstrong, told her: "You remember at the start I said, because you were convicted after a trial, I will be sentencing you based on the facts the prosecution said." Warning her that a strangulation offence carried a starting sentence of 18 months in prison, he asked her what sentence she believed she should receive. She said: "I would appreciate a tag over unpaid work because I'm actually working so I never have time. I'm a self-employed private cleaner and also a hotel supervisor, and the money I earn I need to take care of my family and my son. And I don't want to go to prison because I actually want to go through family courts to get my son back." She said she would accept therapy, adding: "I won't be doing any bad things any more." The court heard Zoltokova did not regularly see her son and paid maintenance to the child's father. She said: "I'm supposed to be paying £100 a month but I'm paying more than that. His father called me and asked me to provide extra money so I did and it wasn't the day I was supposed to be paying this money." Sentencing, recorder Armstrong said: "While you have a previous conviction for assault, it was some time ago when you were a youth and otherwise you have no previous convictions. "I consider this a matter of modest mitigation. I have read the pre-sentence report. I note that while you're now an adult, you still relative young and are not yet fully mature. I note your employment and you work with the primary motivation of providing for your son. "The opinion of the author of the pre-sentence report was that you present as a somewhat immature and vulnerable woman who is in need of support." He sentenced Zoltokova to a total of 14 months in prison, suspended for 18 months. She must also complete 25 rehabilitation days, and pay £200 compensation to the victim. Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here . We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice