Drunk student slapped girl

Dissertation celebrations end with visit to the court

AStirling University student has pledged to avoid a powerful vodka drink after launching an alcohol-fuelled attack.

Shumela Ahmed was celebrating completing her dissertation on June 4 in Stirling city centre when she became involved in an incident with a group of women.

The 35-year-old returned to Stirling Sheriff Court for sentencing this week, having previously issued guilty pleas to three assaults in Maxwell Place.

The court heard on Wednesday that a group of four friends were sitting in the street about 2am after attending a nightclub, when Ahmed approached them.

Fiscal depute Laura Knox said Ahmed had asked the women if they had a lighter, but was informed that none of the group smoked.

Mrs Knox continued: “The accused got a lighter from another member of the public and began to blow smoke at them. They asked her to stop, as the girls found this unpleasant.”

Ahmed, of Fountain Road, Bridge of Allan, then became aggressive towards the women.

She slapped one twice to the face, and was blocked at the third attempt by another member of the group, who she then attacked.

The accused then fell but picked herself up and grabbed one of the girls by the hair and forced her head towards a metal handrail.

Police officers arrived and Ahmed scratched the hand of Constable Dario Ventre.

The court heard that Ahmed had been in full-time education for five years and was due to graduate yesterday (Thursday) with a BA (Hons) in journalism and politics .

A defence agent said her client was an occasional wine drinker but on the night in question knocked back bevvy she was not used to.

“She was drinking double vodka Red Bulls at the locus,” she said. “She had never drank it before and she tells me that she will never drink it again.”

Sentencing, Sheriff Wyllie Robertson said: “These are serious charges involving unprovoked attacks on individuals.

“They are worthy for a consideration of custody. You have not offended in a violent way before but your record shows that you are not a stranger to the court system.”

Ahmed was sentenced to 200 hours of unpaid work, to be completed within six months, as an alternative to custody.