Assault at birthday party

A Perth woman has been spared jail after“losing all control”at her friend’s birthday party.

Perth Sheriff Court was told that

37- year-old Tracey McGregor had taken alcohol on top of strong painkillers and had“no recollection of what she had done.”

But she admitted repeatedly biting Emma King on the head and body - and then trying to sink her teeth into PC Ben Samson’s hand after she had been arrested and taken to Dundee police headquarters.

McGregor, of Andrew Heiton Court, Scoonieburn, also shouted and swore, acted in an aggressive manner and tipped over a table.

Two of the offences took place at a house party in Perth’s Nimmo Avenue on May 2 this year.

Sentence on the accused had been deferred for a background report.

Solicitor David Holmes said:“A number of matters have taken place in her life which are rather more severe than the average person would have to deal with.”

He added:“She had no idea what she had done, although that’s not an excuse in any shape or form.”

As a result, she had“lost”the friendship of the assault victim at the party.

Noting her previous convictions, Sheriff William Wood said they indicated she was“capable of significant violence on occasions.”

He warned her of the dangers of “putting herself in a situation where she had too much to drink and lost all control and all recollection.”

Sheriff Wood imposed a Community Payback Order as a“direct alternative”to prison.

McGregor will be supervised by a social worker for 12 months and will have to complete 100 hours of unpaid work.