A scorned council worker who sparked a brawl at an airport after uncovering her police officer boyfriend’s affair with a female constable has walked free from court.
Furious Helen McEvoy, 29, lashed out in the arrivals lounge of Birmingham Airport after turning detective herself to reveal partner Mark Davis, 29, was cheating with fellow PC Elaine Turner, 34.
A court heard Mr Davis told McEvoy – who he has three young children with – that he was off to Turkey on a stag do – only for her to find the ‘groom’ at home in Dudley, West Mids.
With her suspicions aroused, McEvoy waited for the West Midlands Police officer to return to the airport and lashed out when he appeared – still wearing his holiday shorts – arm in arm with Ms Turner.
The bust-up which happened at 1am on July 17 was captured on CCTV, which showed a display stand of chocolate bars at a WH Smith being sent flying as she tried to hit the cheating pair.
McEvoy and her sister Donna McEvoy, 36, who was also involved in the fracas, admitted assault at Solihull Magistrates Court on November 27.
The siblings, who are both from Dudley, West Mids., were only handed 12 month conditional discharges after JPs accepted Helen McEvoy had experienced a “great degree of provocation”.
Passing sentence, magistrate Michael Martin said: “It’s obvious a deplorable series of events led to this incident.
“It’s clear from the CCTV that injuries were caused, but we accept this was an isolated incident and that Helen was subjected to a great degree of provocation.
“We believe both sisters attended to determine if he had been telling the truth, and not for a violent confrontation.
“There is a considerable amount of mitigation in this case.”
Phillip Haycock, defending, told the court McEvoy and Mr Davis were in a 12-year relationship, had three children and were married “in everything but name”.
He said Mr Davis had cheated on McEvoy with Ms Turner before, but he claimed it was a one-night stand, she had forgiven him and they had received marriage counselling.
He added: “There is a rather sad and sordid background.
“He announced to Helen in July that he was attending a week-long stag party for a colleague in Turkey.
“When he was in Turkey he sent text messages to Helen on a daily basis saying he loved her and missed her.
“My client became suspicious and looked up the address of the would-be groom and found him at home.
“Helen called Mark, who said he was on his own trying to get his head together.
“He told her he would prove he was on his own by meeting her at Gatwick Airport.
“She decided to go to Birmingham Airport instead to wait for flights from Turkey on the day he was due back.
“She was sat in the airport when a flight from Turkey arrived.
“Mr Davis sent a text message which said he was leaving Turkey and would see her at Gatwick in four hours’ time.
“She decided to go to arrivals instead, where they discovered the couple.
“The two sisters did not travel to the airport to cause a problem. Helen wanted to show Elaine that Mr Davis had been playing both of them and that they were still in a relationship.
“She tried to show them the text messages, but the situation deteriorated very quickly.”
Sister Donna admitted assault against Mr Davis and Ms Turner, while Helen McEvoy admitted one charge against Ms Turner.
Mr Haycock said McEvoy, a benefits adviser at Dudley Council, believed Ms Turner had also tried to make trouble for her at work by claiming she was being harassed.
He added: “Helen has tried to keep this as a private matter.
“But a letter has been written to her employer by Elaine Turner, on headed police note paper, in which she claims she has been the victim of harassment by Ms McEvoy.
“Helen, who was spoken to by her manager, believes the letter was sent to cause her trouble.
“I would have thought that anybody caught having an affair would have taken it on the chin and would not pour salt on the wounds by pursuing a prosecution.
“The women accept their behaviour was not entirely appropriate.
“Helen McEvoy is the victim in this incident even though she appears as the defendant.
“She apologises for her actions through me and accepts responsibility for what she did.”
The sisters were also ordered to each pay £200 towards court costs.
airport typo in title.