Mum Assaulted Her Sister During Bitter Custody Dispute Over Her Three Children

Guilty Plea: Clare Gregg

A Hartlepool mother-of-three, who lost custody of her children to her sister, assaulted her sibling during a confrontation about alleged abuse.

Clare Gregg, 55, of Stockton Road sought-out Kathryn McAdam-Freud near her £1.3m home in Peckham Rye, south London.

She pleaded guilty at Camberwell Green Magistrates Court to assaulting her sister on July 26, last year and was fined £180, with £450 costs, plus a £30 victim surcharge.

“I took off her glasses and shoved her, so guilty,” freelance writer Gregg told the court from the dock.

“My sister was the aggressor. My daughter was punched by one of the adults.”

Her three children, aged 12, 14 and 16 years-old, were placed into the care of Kathryn by the Family Court, according to the Crown Prosecution Service.

The CPS told the court a non-molestation order exists, restricting Gregg's contact with her sister until November 30, 2022.

Prosecutor Miss Izelda Gribbin said: “This is a case of domestic abuse, the complainant is the defendant's sister and has custody of her children.

“She went to the address to see her daughter and Ms McAdam-Freud's cleaner said she was ranting and raving.

“The complainant's concern was for the children and the defendant took her glasses off her face and grabbed her arm.

“She has the children legally and is giving them the best care she can.

“There was some contact with the children, but that stopped three years ago.

Clare Gregg arriving at court

“Police have been called on several occasions and this defendant displays this behaviour in front of the children.

“The complainant says this defendant turns up at the address uninvited, calling her a child kidnapper and a paedophile.

“She says she doesn't feel safe and does not know when the defendant will turn up.

“She says she would like to move around without fearing Clare Gregg can turn up at any time and feels she is being stalked.”

Gregg's lawyer Mr. Abdul Mojid told the court: “The three children were taken from her ten years ago.

“There have been family proceedings and it has had an impact on Clare Gregg and she went to the house to see her children.

“It's also been extremely expensive for her, making three visits to London.

“She disputes the origin of the family proceedings and the fact her children have been taken from her in the first place.”