A 22-year-old horsewoman, who left her love rival with life-long scars after smashing a gin glass into her face following a day at the races, broke down in tears in court as she was spared jail. Despite the severity of the attack, the court decided not to impose a prison sentence.
An equestrian, Mia Troake, 22, broke down in tears as she was freed by a judge after being convicted of a drunken “glassing” attack that left her love rival, Felicity Calveley, permanently scarred. The incident occurred following a day at the races, where Troake smashed a gin glass into Calveley’s face after taunting her in a restaurant. The attack was reportedly fueled by jealousy, as Miss Calveley had previously dated Troake’s boyfriend, leading to the confrontation. The judge’s decision to spare Troake from jail has sparked outrage from the victim.
In the moments leading up to the assault, Mia Troake, who works in childcare services, confronted Felicity Calveley by asking, “Do you want to fk my boyfriend?” to which Miss Calveley flippantly responded, “Yeh, I want to fk him.” This exchange prompted Troake to smash a stemmed glass into Calveley’s face, causing a severe cut to her upper lip and leaving glass fragments embedded in her face.
Miss Calveley, an estate agent from Tarporley, Cheshire, required five stitches for her injuries. As a result of the assault, she lost her job due to the need for time off and the loss of confidence that followed the traumatic incident.
Felicity Calveley described the lasting impact of the assault, stating, “The scar on my face is a constant reminder of the attack and often leads to questions from others, forcing me to repeatedly recount the traumatic event.”
She explained that for months after the incident, even smiling was painful, severely affecting her ability to express happiness. She has suffered from extreme anxiety, particularly in social settings, where the sound of breaking glass triggers panic attacks, and she struggles to relax in crowded spaces. Calveley has been diagnosed with mild PTSD and is receiving Cognitive Behavioral Therapy online to manage her symptoms. She can only attend bars or restaurants with trusted friends, which limits her social interactions and support network. The emotional toll of retelling the story of the attack has hindered her ability to form new social connections.
Professionally, Calveley took three months off work as an estate agent due to a lack of confidence in visiting unknown people’s homes, which ultimately led to her redundancy. Although she found another similar role, she had to leave due to ongoing self-confidence issues and an inability to perform as she once did.
