A sentencing hearing for a 40-year-old woman who locked a teenager in a flat in Leiston has been adjourned to allow medical reports to be obtained on her.

Before Ipswich Crown Court on Thursday was Karen Parker, of Witnesham, near Ipswich, who was found guilty of falsely imprisoning the victim and assaulting her causing her actual bodily harm after a trial in her absence in June.

Judge Emma Peters adjourned the case until November 22 to allow medical reports to be obtained on Parker and remanded her in custody until then.

During her trial the court heard that during the victim's ordeal she was dragged round the flat by her hair by Parker and punched in the face,, causing injuries to her mouth and eye.

At one stage Parker, who was drinking alcohol, offered the girl a drink but she had turned her down and told Parker she was only 15.

Parker, who has more than 50 previous convictions, had become aggressive and told the girl: “It’s all your fault” before allegedly assaulting her.

When the girl screamed for help through an open window, Parker had put her hand over her mouth and grabbed her by the throat and told her she would throw her out of the window if she wanted to leave.

Following her arrest, Parker denied being violent towards the girl and claimed she had tried to restrain her after she drank gin and had become aggressive when she was challenged about it.