‘Unbelievably stupid’ attack

AN ‘UNBELIEVABLY stupid’ female who smashed a wine bottle over a male friend’s head was handed a reprieve from jail.

Drunk Waterlooville woman Amy Kennedy, 29, lashed out during a ‘fiery argument’ on May 13 last year at her home in Kelly Road.

The blow left the man with cuts to the back of his head.

After admitting a charge of unlawful wounding, Kennedy wasallowedtokeepherliberty duringhersentencehearingat Portsmouth Crown Court.

The court heard a provocative ‘remark’ was made following ‘unusual behaviour during the day’ before Kennedy saw red.

Judge Richard Shepherd said: ‘There was a fiery argument following a comment when in drink.

‘It was unbelievably stupid to strike the friend with a bottle.’

Richard Onslow, defending,saidtherehadbeendiscussionswhetherKennedywasfit topleadbeforeapsychiatricreport concluded she was - leaving her facing jail.

He added: ‘She is frankly dead scared of going to prison.’

As judge Shepherd began his summing up, Kennedy was overwhelmed by the situation withherbelievingshewashaving a panic attack.

But the judge immediately putheroutofhermisery.‘Iwill not be sending you to prison,’ he said.

Kennedy replied: ‘Thank god…the thought...I’ve never been here before.’

JudgeShepherdcontinued: ‘Whenyouhityourfriendwith a bottle you caused some cuts to the back of the head.

‘Fortunately it could have beenmuchworsebutitwasn’t. The use of a wine bottle could have caused a really serious injury.’

The judge said he recognised the defendant’s ‘mental health difficulties’ and the ‘degree of provocation’ in the row between the friends.

The court heard Kennedy had one old conviction for criminal damage. ‘Apart from that you are a person who has not been in trouble before,’ judge Shepherd said.

‘Youaregenuinelyremorseful of the harm you caused.’

He added: ‘Prison would be awful for you.’

Instead of immediate jail, Kennedy was handed a 14-month sentence suspended for 18 months.

She was also told to complete 25 rehabilitation days but was warned she would ‘go to prison’ if there were any breaches.