ATTACKER IS SPARED JAIL

Victim punched repeatedly by woman

A Perth woman was left scarred for life after she was attacked by another female in a close on a city housing estate.

Chloe Nicoll lost consciousness for a few minutes after the drink-fuelled confrontation following a party in a North Muirton flat.

The victim was punched repeatedly on the face by 23-year-old Jeanine Burns and then slumped to the ground.

She was taken by ambulance to Perth Royal Infirmary where she was detained overnight.

Depute fiscal Carol Whyte told Perth Sheriff Court that she suffered a two-inch wound to her head which was glued shut.

Sheriff Gillian Wade was shown a photograph of the injury when Burns, of Wallace Gait, Perth, appeared for sentence this week.

The scar was “still visible” on a previous occasion she had attended court, the sheriff was told.

Burns, said to have “taken steps” to deal with her alcohol and drug issues, was spared a prison term.

Instead, she will have to carry out 225 hours of unpaid work in the next year - and will be supervised for 18 months.

Sheriff Wade noted that it was her third conviction for assault.

“Your offending behaviour has escalated - and that’s not something you should be proud of at your age and stage in life.”

The sheriff noted that Burns was a carer for her mother - and she would “suffer” as much as the accused if she was jailed.

The accused admitted that on May 29 last year, at Cumbrae Place, North Muirton, she assaulted Ms Nicol by seizing hold of her, causing her to fall to the ground. She then repeatedly punched the victim on the head, to her injury and permanent disfigurement.

Solicitor Pauline Cullerton said both women had been consuming alcohol that night when Ms Nicoll began to “make derogatory remarks” about her appearance.

An “argument erupted” and the accused was asked to leave. When she got outside, however, a bottle was thrown - she understood by the victim.

Although it didn’t hit her, she foolishly decided to return to the house instead of walking away.

“She then took hold of the complainer and punched her three times.”

As well as seeking help for her drug and alcohol difficulties, she had also consulted her doctor regarding anger management sessions and they were “in the pipeline.”

Sheriff Wade said custody had been at the “forefront” of her mind but she had taken into account the accused’s health and also that of her mother.