Express
May 25, 2014
A HEARTLESS young woman who mugged the brave widow of murdered church organist Alan Greaves burst out laughing in the dock as she avoided jail.
Mona Haj Youssef, 24, punched 64-year-old Maureen Greaves in the face just two days before two thugs who battered her husband Alan to death on Christmas Eve 2012 appeared in court.
In a case which shocked Britain, father-of-four Alan, 68, was smashed over the head with a hammer as he walked from his home in Sheffield to play the organ at Midnight Mass.
He died in hospital three days later.
Kind-hearted Church Army worker Maureen was attacked outside shops, leaving her shaken, bruised and nursing a cut cheek.
Youssef, a former university student whose studies fell apart when she got hooked on drugs, mocked the justice system as she avoided jail for the offence.
She sneered as she was given a two-year probation supervision order and 12 months’ mental health treatment.
She was also ordered to pay £250 in compensation for assault.
As she was told to pay, Youssef laughed and shouted: “Yeah, £250.”
The outburst at Sheffield magistrates court attracted no further penalty and last night Maureen said she was happy with the outcome.
“I am pleased this went to court because it means she will get some help,” she said.
“Not only did she hit me, she was extremely angry.
“I’m glad she is going to be supervised by the probation service and get some treatment for her mental health problems.
“Hopefully she will be able to be in society afterwards and not harm people.
“It’s for her own good as well as everybody else’s.”