'Hold her still ' she heard the magistrate command, and a hand, presumably that of the constable, pressed hard and flat between her shoulder blades, pinning her to the seat. The second blow fell with the full strength of his arm, catching her unawares across the crown of her bottom. Her legs shot outwards and buckled at the knees.
'And this, ' the magistrate continued with great satisfaction, 'is purely for the pleasure of beating...