Woman who glassed man avoids jail
A woman who left a man aged in his 60s needing seven internal stitches and 12 staples for a 2.5-inch head wound narrowly avoided jail. Alice Smith, 26, of Flat A, 37 Albyn Avenue, Campbeltown, pleaded guilty at a previous court appearance to assaulting the man by striking him in the head with a glass to his severe injury on March 29. Smith had been drinking ‘vast quantities of alcohol’ with the man and another friend in his home when she became aggressive and was asked to leave. She picked up a glass tumbler and struck him on the head with it, after which he lost consciousness. Smith phoned 999 and told police that she assaulted the man because he threatened her with a knife. He was taken to hospital where he received treatment. At the recent sentencing hearing, Smith’s defence agent, Christian Kane, said: ‘If the court gives her another chance, she will comply. ‘She is still relatively immature, she lacks instinct – she clearly has problems dealing with her issues, going from calm and quiet to shouting and bawling, then back to calm and quiet in seconds.’ Addressing Smith, Sheriff Patrick Hughes said: ‘In the space of a year, you have been in court three times for violence or threats of violence. ‘This court has to protect the people of Campbeltown, either by putting you to prison or rehabilitating you in the community. ‘Having been granted bail on three separate occasions, you are still failing to comply with the community payback order. ‘I am satisfied that I can give you one last chance but it must be said that this is the last chance as this is an extremely serious offence.’ Smith was told she must complete 140 hours of unpaid work within 12 months and must remain under the supervision of the social work department for two years. She is prohibited from entering any public house or bar, or consuming alcohol in any public place. Referring Smith to the Argyll and Bute Addiction Team, Sheriff Hughes said: ‘You told the social work department that you do not have a problem with alcohol – I am telling you today that you do and it is one you must address.’ Smith was also placed on a tag for 10 months and must remain in her house from 7pm until 7am. Sheriff Hughes warned Smith, who wept in the dock: ‘If you are out by five minutes, that is a breach and you will go to prison.’ He advised Smith’s partner, who was in court, that he should support her or risk looking at her through a pane of glass for the next few years.