Female soldier quits Army after Beaujolais Day ‘glassing’ attack
It is no longer ‘appropriate’ for her to wear uniform as people may mistake scars for war wounds, she says
A SOLDIER quit the Army after being scarred for life by a young woman who smashed a glass in her face in the lavatories of a Swansea bar while celebrating Beaujolais Day.
Natalie Arthurs, 36, was left with wounds like those seen in “a scene from a horror movie” after the attack by Emily Williams, 25.
She said that she has taken off her uniform for good as she feared people may mistake her scars for war wounds.
Swansea Crown Court heard that the women had gone out separately in November 2022 on Beaujolais Day, a traditional celebration of the new crop of the French red wine. Williams had attacked Ms Arthurs at about 6pm after her sister’s drink was spilled.
Alycia Carpanini, prosecuting, said Ms Arthurs was left with a 15cm wound along the left side of her chest and shoulder, and a 7cm wound to her cheek along with wounds to her nose and neck. Jailing her for five years, Judge Huw Rees described Williams’s actions “wicked almost beyond belief ”.
In a victim impact statement, Ms Arthurs said that her life had been “changed forever”.
She said: “The memory of the assault is etched vividly on my mind. It was a scene from a horror movie. All I could think about is how scared my little girl would be. I spent three agonising days in hospital. The pain was unbearable. Every aspect of my life became demoralising and unbearable. Fifteen months on from the attack, I am still learning to live with what happened.”
The mother-of-one said she that had felt obliged to quit as an Army reservist because her extensive scarring made her feel “ashamed” to wear the uniform.
“She didn’t feel it was right,” Judge Rees said.
Describing her as “brave and resolute”, the judge added: “She felt ashamed because she wasn’t a war hero and she didn’t want people to think she got her scars in that way.
“She is clearly a woman of admirable character.”
Addressing Williams, the judge went on: “What you did to someone who was a complete stranger and someone you had no prior argument with was wicked. The effect of what you have done is plain for all to see.”
Jon Tarrant, in mitigation, said that Williams’s actions had been “impulsive” and told the court she had two young children who depended on her for their care.
Williams, of Lady Street, Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire, who had previously denied inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent, was appearing in the dock for sentencing.
Ms Arthurs was granted a 10-year restraining order against her.