The troubled actress daughter of ex-Sky Sports presenter Richard Keys enjoyed a rare court victory yesterday when the paramedic who claims she punched her in the face failed to appear for the trial.
Former Hollyoaks star Jemma Keys, 28, of Westbourne Terrace Road, Bayswater, who currently serving a one-year community order, with 175 hours community service work for a drunken attack on her mother, has always denied the charge.
She walked free from Hammersmith Magistrates' Court, where she also recently appeared for breaching another supervision order imposed for drink-driving while taking and driving away an ex-boyfriend's car.
Prosecutor Mr. David Mold told the court: "The victim is a paramedic at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and was taking Miss Key's into the building on a stretcher and felt she needed to apply the restraints.
"With her clenched right fist she punched the complainant on the nose, causing swelling."
Keys pleaded not guilty to assaulting Claire Bradshaw on August 23, last year and her mother Julia Keys, 53, had taken a police officer's shoulder number at the scene, resulting in the officer agreeing to give evidence for the defence.
"The police officer will say Miss Keys demanded to be taken to a private hospital or be let go and as she moved her arms to avoid being restrained there was an accidental clash with the paramedic," explained Mr. John Oliver, defending.
District Judge Teresa Szagun refused to adjourn the trial for the prosecution witnesses to attend.
"This was an allegation of assault against a paramedic and did involve an element of battery, but three trial dates have already been fixed and this is an offence that is twelve months old.
"There is no explanation for their non-attendance today and I consider the matter should proceed."
She told Keys: "The Crown are not in any position to offer any evidence so you are free to go."
The case marks the end of a string of alcohol-related incidents involving Keys, who has received treatment for her addiction, including her father funding a stay at a Far East retreat.
Last month she admitted digging her fingernails into her mother's wrists as Mrs Keys tried to protect herself from her drunken daughter's flurry of kicks at the family's £4m Chelsea home.
She is currently serving a three-year driving disqualification, has struggled to co-operate with the probation service, often skipping appointments, and received a caution for a separate assault on her mother.
During last month's sentencing hearing Mr. Oliver told the court: "She has shown a reluctance to take part in alcohol counselling because she has been in residential rehabilitation, funded by her parents, and feels until she addresses her emotional problems she will relapse.
"She had difficulties growing up and there were difficulties in her parents' relationship that effected her."
In the last year Keys has lived in approximately ten different addresses including Sunningdale, Wentworth, Plymouth, Chelsea and Ilford, but her new three-year lease is for a settled home funded by her father.
When she pleaded guilty to attacking her mother her solicitor Mr. Fadi Daoud told the court: "She is dysfunctional and has no income and no job and is somebody who has had alcohol problems for six or seven years.
"Her mother went to the police because she found her daughter drunk again, face-down, and there has been a lot of history in the past when her mother has not pursued it.
"Miss Keys continued to receive the support of her family and is somebody who can remain sober for six or seven weeks and then relapse.
"It is an on-going problem the family are dealing with. There is a massive amount of history.
"Miss Keys takes a lot of energy and time out of her family and others and she has to realise it is down to her and hopefully as a result of this the light has come on.
"She is a clever girl from a good family and her family have assisted her by buying her a home and arranging for a car to always pick her up and collect her so she can avoid dangers."
The lawyer asked the court to give Keys credit for her behaviour while on bail. "She could have run away and been found again face-down in the gutter.
"The positive is that she has a family that can and will assist her."
The court also heard Keys was previously arrested by Sussex Police for being drunk and disorderly on January 3 and received a caution.
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